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Christmas Tree Notes
Working Safely: Ergonomic Issues in Christmas Tree Harvest
CTN-035
Introduction:
During most harvest seasons on any Christmas tree farm, some workers will experience
strained muscles and possibly a minor scrape, cut, or bruise. Occasionally, however, serious
injuries can occur during harvest activities. Injuries can result in higher workmen’s
compensation insurance and lost productivity during a very hectic time of year. Nationwide,
such work-related injuries account for 34 percent of all sick leave. These injuries cost $15 to
$20 billion in workers' compensation each year. With a few precautions and minor
adjustments to harvesting practices, many of the typical injuries can be avoided.
Christmas tree harvesting activities involve a wide range of ergonomic and safety concerns
associated with the high level of manual activity. Ergonomics is the science of adjusting job
tasks to the worker. It is concerned with the motion and activity of people, their use of tools
and machinery, and the design and arrangement of work for greatest safety and efficiency.
When there is a mismatch between the physical demand of the job and the physical capacity
of the worker, acute and chronic injuries can result. Employers and employees alike need to
be aware of hazards related to equipment use and the way workers physically move through
tasks. Greater work safety can be achieved by first identifying the high-risk activities and
then altering the work conditions that contribute to possible injuries.
Ergonomic Stressors:
The factors that contribute to ergonomic stress include force, repetition, posture, and
duration:
Force: High muscular force is a common ergonomic risk factor found in manual jobs. Active
work such as carrying, pushing, lifting, or handling a heavy load may often require excessive
force that leads to an increased risk of injury. When employees must work certain muscles
too hard, blood flow is restricted leading to rapid muscle fatigue and potential injury. In a
similar way, when workers hold a static position or carry a load for more than a short time,
blood flow to the muscles involved is also diminished with resulting fatigue and risk of
injury. Force-related injuries during harvest result from straining to lift trees or equipment,
straining to hold a grasp on those loads, and from the impact of sharp or hard objects against
hands, limbs, and body.
While Christmas tree harvest will always be physically demanding work, the need for
excessive individual effort can be minimized. By following proper lifting techniques,
working in teams, and reducing the distance that loads must be carried, workers can avoid
hurting themselves. By having the right equipment for the task such as a large baler cone to
bale large trees or a longer elevator to load tractor trailers, the need for workers to strain their
muscles can be greatly lessened. Try to mechanize the harvesting operation where possible to
reduce the need to manually carry, lift, or catch trees and to reduce the duration and effort of
such activities.
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