Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ergonomic Analysis of a Low-Cost Fresh Market Apple Harvest-Assist Unit

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Mechanical Harvest of Fresh Market Apples

Part of the book series: Smart Agriculture ((SA,volume 1))

  • 230 Accesses

Abstract

Manual apple harvest by seasonal migrant workers throughout the U.S. using ladder-bucket method. Though it is known that apple harvest would cause occupational injuries to workers, few studies have been conducted to quantify the levels of occupational injuries. Applying the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method, this study comprehensively evaluated the harvest process by dividing it into different activities. To alleviate occupational injuries in apple harvest, a low-cost harvest-assist unit has been developed, and its performance on reducing occupational injuries was further evaluated. Experimental results showed that seven out of 11 activities in the ladder-bucket harvest method would lead to occupational injuries, and the adoption of ladders and buckets was mainly responsible for causing occupational diseases. It has been demonstrated that adoption of the harvest-assist unit for high level apples harvest would not result in occupational injuries. Using the combined method (conventional for low level apples + harvest-assist unit for high level apples) to harvest apples would significantly reduce the occupational injury potential by cutting down the uncomfortable time ratio from 64 to 29%. This study demonstrated that combining the conventional harvest method for low level apples and the harvest-assist unit for high level apples harvest would significantly reduce the potential of occupational injuries. Thus, the newly developed apple harvest-assist unit supplies a solution to apple growers to alleviate harvest employees’ occupational injuries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Lu Y, Lu R (2016) Quality evaluation of apples. In: Sun D-W (ed) Computer vision technology for food quality evaluation, 2nd edn. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, pp 273–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-802232-0.00011-6

  2. Zhang Z, Zhang Z, Wang W, Liu H, Sun Z (2019) The role of a new harvest platform in alleviation of apple workers’ occupational injuries during harvest. J Agric Saf Health 25(1):11–24. https://doi.org/10.13031/jash.13103

  3. U.S. Apple Association (2021) Industry at a glance. Retrieved from https://usapple.org/

  4. Zhang Z, Heinemann PH, Liu J, Schupp JR, Baugher TA (2017a). Brush mechanism for distributing apples in a low-cost apple harvest-assist unit. Appl Eng Agric 33(2):195–201. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.11971

  5. Zhang Z, Pothula AK, Lu R (2017b) Development of a new bin filler for apple harvesting and infield sorting with a review of existing technologies. ASABE Paper No. 1700662. ASABE, St. Joseph, MI. https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.201700662

  6. USDA (2015) Noncitrus fruits and nuts: 2014 summary. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington, DC. Retrieved from https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usdaesmis/files/zs25x846c/6108vd86r/3r074x570/NoncFruiNu-07-17-2015.pdf

  7. Flores P, Zhang Z, Igathinathane C, Jithin M, Naik D, Stenger J, Ransom J, Kiran R (2021) Distinguishing seedling volunteer corn from soybean through greenhouse color, color-infrared, and fused images using machine and deep learning. Ind Crops Prod 161:113223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.113223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Jahan N, Flores P, Liu Z, Friskop A, Mathew JJ, Zhang Z (2020) Detecting and distinguishing wheat diseases using image processing and machine learning algorithms. ASABE Paper No. 2000372. ASABE, St. Joseph, MI. https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.202000372

  9. Yao L, Hu D, Zhao C, Yang Z, Zhang Z (2021) Wireless positioning and path tracking for a mobile platform in greenhouse. Int J Agric Biol Eng 14(1):216–223. https://doi.org/10.25165/j.ijabe.20211401.5627

  10. Zhang Z, Heinemann PH, Liu J, Baugher TA, Schupp JR (2016a) The development of mechanical apple harvesting technology: a review. Trans ASABE 59(5):1165–1180. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.59.11737

  11. Zhang Z, Igathinathane C, Li J, Cen H, Lu Y, Flores P (2020) Technology progress in mechanical harvest of fresh market apples. Comput Electron Agric 175:105606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2020.105606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang Z, Lu Y, Lu R (2021) Development and evaluation of an apple infield grading and sorting system. Postharvest Biol Technol 180:111588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2021.111588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Freivalds A, Park S, Lee C, Earle-Richardson G, Mason C, May JJ (2006) Effect of belt/bucket interface in apple harvesting. Int J Ind Ergon 36(11):1005–1010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2006.08.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang Z (2015) Design, test, and improvement of a low-cost apple harvest-assist unit. Ph.D. dissertation. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

    Google Scholar 

  15. Luo R, Lewis KM, Zhang Q, Wang SM (2012) Assessment of bruise damage by vacuum apple harvester using an impact recording device. ASABE Paper No. 121338094. ASABE, St. Joseph, MI. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.41870

  16. Zhang Z, Heinemann P, Liu J, Schupp J, Baugher T (2014) Design, fabrication, and testing of a low-cost apple harvest-assist device. ASABE Paper No. 141839738. ASABE, St. Joseph, MI. https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.20141839738

  17. Earle-Richardson G, Jenkins PL, Strogatz D, Bell EM, May JJ (2006) Development and initial assessment of objective fatigue measures for apple harvest work. Appl Ergon 37(6):719–727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2005.12.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Earle-Richardson G, Jenkins P, Fulmer S, Mason C, Burdick P, May J (2005) An ergonomic intervention to reduce back strain among apple harvest workers in New York State. Appl Ergon 36(3):327–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2004.12.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Earle-Richardson GB, Fulmer S, Jenkins P, Mason C, Bresee C, May J (2004) Ergonomic analysis of New York apple harvest work using a Posture-Activities-Tools-Handling (PATH) work sampling approach. J Agric Saf Health 10(3):163–176. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.16473

  20. Fathallah FA (2010) Musculoskeletal disorders in labor-intensive agriculture. Appl Ergon 41(6):738–743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2010.03.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sakakibara H, Miyao M, Kondo T-A, Yamada S (1995) Overhead work and shoulder-neck pain in orchard farmers harvesting pears and apples. Ergonomics 38(4):700–706. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139508925141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Bernard BP (1997) Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors: a critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremity, and low back. NIOSH, Cincinnati, OH

    Google Scholar 

  23. Dockrell S, O’Grady E, Bennett K, Mullarkey C, Mc Connell R, Ruddy R, Twomey S, Flannery C (2012) An investigation of the reliability of Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) as a method of assessment of children’s computing posture. Appl Ergon 43(3):632–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2011.09.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Drinkaus P, Sesek R, Bloswick D, Bernard T, Walton B, Joseph B, Reeve G, Counts JH (2003) Comparison of ergonomic risk assessment outputs from Rapid Upper Limb Assessment and the Strain Index for tasks in automotive assembly plants. Work 21(2):165–172

    Google Scholar 

  25. Fountain LJK (2003) Examining RULA’s postural scoring system with selected physiological and psychophysiological measures. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 9(4):383–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2003.11076576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Sharan D, Ajeesh PS (2012) Correlation of ergonomic risk factors with RULA in IT professionals from India. Work 41:512–515. https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-2012-0205-512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhang Z, Heinemann PH, Liu J, Schupp JR, Baugher TA (2016b) Design and field test of a low-cost apple harvest-assist unit. Trans ASABE 59(5):1149–1156. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.59.11708

  28. Zhang Z, Heinemann P (2017) Economic analysis of a low-cost apple harvest-assist unit. HortTechnology 27(2):240–247. https://doi.org/10.21273/horttech03548-16

  29. McAtamney L, Corlett EN (1993) RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work related upper limb disorders. Appl Ergon 24(2):91–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(93)90080-s

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Credit Authorship Contribution Statement

Z. Zhang: Writing—original draft. Y. Qiao: Writing—review & editing. H. Liu: Writing—review & editing. Z. Zhang: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. M. Li: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Writing—review & editing.

Disclaimer

Mention of commercial products or orchards in this paper is only for providing factual information and does not imply endorsement of them by authors over those not mentioned.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Economics and Management, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, China

    Zhaohua Zhang & M. Li

  2. Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR), Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Y. Qiao

  3. Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    H. Liu

  4. Key Lab of Modern Precision Agriculture System Integration Research, Ministry of Education of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Zhao Zhang

  5. Key Lab of Agriculture Information Acquisition Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Zhao Zhang

  6. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota, State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA

    Zhao Zhang

Authors
  1. Zhaohua Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhao Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab of Modern Precision Agriculture System Integration Research, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China

    Zhao Zhang

  2. College of Economics and Management, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China

    Zhaohua Zhang

  3. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Cannayen Igathinathane

  4. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering, Beijing, China

    Yingkuan Wang

  5. University of Florida, Immokalee, FL, USA

    Yiannis Ampatzidis

  6. MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Precision Agriculture System Integration Research, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China

    Gang Liu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Zhang, Z., Qiao, Y., Liu, H., Zhang, Z., Li, M. (2022). Ergonomic Analysis of a Low-Cost Fresh Market Apple Harvest-Assist Unit. In: Zhang, Z., Zhang, Z., Igathinathane, C., Wang, Y., Ampatzidis, Y., Liu, G. (eds) Mechanical Harvest of Fresh Market Apples. Smart Agriculture, vol 1. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5316-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation