Ergonomic study on the behavior of trawler workers analysis of work movement line and working posture
2003
Hisamune, S. (Maritime Labour Research Inst., Tokyo (Japan)) | Kimura, N. | Amagai, K.
Abstract In Japan, the accident rate among fishery workers is eight times higher than that for workers in all other industries. The trawl fishery, which had one of the highest rates of work accidents in the fishing industry, was chosen as the subject of the present study. The ergonomic conditions of the working environment onboard trawlers were examined by analyzing the motion of workers. To evaluate the relative position between the worker and fishing implements, we analyzed the moving line and the working position during fishing operations. The posture of workers was measured to calculate a value for the pain index number. The moving line of the worker walking on the net was observed, and it became clear that the range of movement for the workers was wide. Walking on the net is a dangerous behavior under heavy rolling motion because workers are easily thrown overboard. Various unnatural postures related to "inclination" were observed during fish selection and putting fish into boxes. The working posture during selection was evaluated by the pain index number. For workers on an 80-GT trawler, the pain index number attained five because fish was placed directly on the floor. If the trawler was equipped with a belt conveyer, the worker would select the fish in a standing position. We proposed an index to reduce work accidents at the fishery.
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