[Repetitive movements of the upper limbs: results of exposure evaluation and clinical investigation during the sorting and packaging of apples].

In the fruit industry, workers sorting and packing apples perform a job that is characterised by repetitive actions, that require them to remain in an upright position for prolonged periods of time and, occasionally, to manually lift loads of apples. The aim of the study was to detect and provide a preliminary quantification of any possible risks for the musculo-skeletal system, as well as any disorders present among the workers. A risk analysis for WMSDs was performed in an apple packing plant, using video recordings of the job cycles associated with two different tasks (semi-automatic sorting and manual packing). A clinical and anamnestic investigation was carried out in nine plants; a standard questionnaire was distributed to 180 employees, with the purpose of detecting disorders and diseases of the locomotor system. An initial evaluation of the risks for WMSDs indicated that the routine tasks performed by the female apple workers featured a very high frequency of actions, also in view of the fact that the repetitive tasks lasted for the duration of the entire work shift. In the situation examined, the action frequency limits were greatly exceeded; moreover, the recovery times were inadequate in terms both of their duration and distribution. Regarding clinical and anamnestic examination, an overall analysis of the results shows a very high prevalence of spinal and hand-arm disorders. Given these preliminary findings, the authors suggest that the sample population of fruit sorters should undergo clinical and instrumental testing to evaluate the condition of the spine and upper limbs, and that a specific health surveillance programme should be adopted across the industry.