In pig manufacturing, many farmers complain of again issues, which they attribute to their work. Duties that require lifting quite a few piglets in a short while, corresponding to farrowing care or vaccinations, put quite a lot of pressure on the again. There are answers to keep away from bending over, corresponding to corresponding to vaccination pits or piglet lifts. Nevertheless, these options are hardly ever adopted for worry of dropping time. Some farmers additionally want restraining piglets individually to make sure good vaccination high quality.
Exoskeletons are units an individual can put on that present bodily help to carry out a given motion (e.g. bending over, elevating arms in a milking parlor, and many others.). To evaluate their usefulness in enhancing working situations throughout vaccinations, the MSA Armorique and the Brittany Chamber of Agriculture examined two fashions, with technical assist from the consulting agency AGB Options.
The 2 fashions chosen had been passive (i.e., non-motorized) exoskeletons that supplied help when the “torso is tilted greater than 45°.” Each fashions had been light-weight (roughly 1 kg). One mannequin assisted by way of elastics on the again and the opposite by way of carbon rods on the entrance of the physique.
Desk 1. Comparability of the 2 exoskeletons used within the examine.
| Mannequin |  |
 |
| Assist factors | Shoulders Waist Higher thighs |
Shoulders Hips Above the knees |
| Exertion help system |
Crossed elastics within the again
|
Carbon fibers from thighs to entrance of shoulders
|
| Weight | 900 g | 1100 g |
*Picture credit score for exoskeletons: Brittany Chamber of Agriculture.
Testing carried out
Within the first section, assessments had been carried out beneath managed situations, asking 4 individuals to elevate 3, 6, 8, and 12-kg weights and carry out particular actions. Every of the 4 individuals carried out these sequence of actions thrice, carrying, in a random order, one exoskeleton, the opposite exoskeleton, or no exoskeleton.
Within the second section, eight skilled farmers wore the identical exoskeletons examined beneath managed situations however this time throughout piglet vaccination periods. Throughout the identical session, the particular person concerned within the check used, in a random order, one exoskeleton, the opposite exoskeleton, or no exoskeleton.
In each phases of the assessments, totally different points of the working situations had been evaluated: job execution time, consumer notion (consolation, chafing, ease of use, and many others.), cardiac exercise, and the exercise of six muscle tissues: two within the again, two within the shoulders and two within the thighs. A medical examination was additionally carried out beforehand to confirm the absence of contraindications and to evaluate the ache stage in 21 components of the physique.
Pig farmers testing the usage of exoskeletons when vaccinating piglets. Supply: Brittany Chamber of Agriculture.
Outcomes
The assessments beneath managed situations (with weights) confirmed a big discount in muscular effort within the again, between -4% and -19% relying on the muscle, the motion, and the exoskeleton mannequin. This lower was accompanied by a higher effort within the thigh muscle tissues.
Nevertheless, assessments carried out throughout vaccination confirmed a big improve in again pressure: +16% with one mannequin and +37% with the opposite. Stress additionally elevated considerably within the thighs.
This distinction between the 2 assessments might be defined by the variation within the actions. Within the assessments with weights, the contributors all the time held a static load in entrance of them. In distinction, throughout vaccination, piglets had been picked up on one facet of the divider and launched on the opposite. The exoskeletons, designed to assist the “bend and straighten” motion, weren’t tailored to twisting actions, which most likely generated chafing and compelled the consumer to exert extra effort.
Limitations of exoskeletons in vaccination: finest to keep away from lifting hundreds
The 2 fashions examined, and people typically designed to work in a frontal place, don’t cut back again pressure throughout vaccination. To enhance working situations throughout piglet vaccination, it’s preferable to implement units that forestall the employee from having to elevate and deal with piglets, corresponding to pits or elevated vaccination techniques.
This examine was financially supported by the MSA Armorique, France 2030 Territoires d’Innovation, and the Regional Program for Agricultural and Rural Growth of Brittany.
