RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 37 (4) December 2025, p. 684-695

A BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS ON WORKRELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS USING A MECHANISED CHAINSAW FOR OIL PALM HARVESTING

UMESH GANESH1; ZAIDI MOHD RIPIN1; WAN MOHD AMRI WAN MAMAT ALI1; YEO YING HENG1; MITCHELLE LAW JYY JINN1; JEEVINTHIRAN KARUNAGARAN1 and MOHAMAD IKHWAN ZAINI RIDZWAN1*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2024.0045
Received: 2 February 2024   Accepted: 9 July 2024   Published Online: 19 September 2024
ABSTRACT

The demanding nature of harvesting, which requires high cutting force, often leads to extensive physical exertion and fatigue. This study investigates the potential of utilising a pole-mounted mechanised chainsaw to minimise the pulling effort required to overcome friction forces during oil palm harvesting. The powered chainsaw demonstrates a mean peak cutting force of 677.57 ± 337.83 N, with a corresponding Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) score averaging 8.11 ± 1.41. The mean 5th lumbar vertebra and 1st sacral vertebra (L5-S1) compression and shear forces were 808.63 ± 63.84 N and 528.16 ± 190.98 N, respectively, both below the safety threshold. Mechanised tools reduce muscle activation and pain scores across various muscle groups. Peak muscle activation measured less than 65% for the right biceps, and mean values were below 30% for all muscle parts. The mean peak pain score was 6 for the right and left biceps, and the right anterior deltoid, while the mean peak value was consistently less than 4 for all muscle parts. The tool processes one frond every 25 s, potentially handling 20 to 30 FFBs/hr. This study suggests that mechanised tools have the potential to enhance worker well-being and efficiency in oil palm harvesting.

KEYWORDS:


1 Neurorehabilitation Engineering and Assistance Systems
Research, School of Mechanical Engineering,
Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia,
14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia.

* Corresponding author e-mail: mikhwanr@usm.my

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