|
Weeding Stand for Plant Nurseries:
| Problem: |
One Solution: |
When plants are kept on the ground, workers
must bend completely forward to weed
them, risking low-back problems. |
Use a movable table to elevate trays while
weeding. |
 |
 |
Newly propagated plants are often kept in
plastic flats on the ground for initial growth
before “potting.” |
Worker can stand while weeding, relieving
prolonged stress on back. |
Worker must stoop and stay in bent position
to weed trays on ground. |
Worker must still stoop to pick up and
replace trays, but change of position is better
than prolonged position. |
Worker fatigue and pain can lead to lower
work quality. |
Tray is closer to worker, reducing strain
from reaching. |
| |
Strain reduction will improve worker performance. |
Weeding Stand
Why Bother With a Table?
You can help prevent chronic back injuries among
weeders and should see improved work quality.
Won't Moving the Table Slow the
Worker Down?
Probably not, if you calculate productivity over the
work shift. Use of the table may result in slightly
slower progress while workers are fresh. By midday,
however, when back fatigue is setting in,
workers using the table will be less tired and likely
to move faster.
Should I Make or Buy a Table?
Either approach is fine provided that the table is
the right size to fit the workers. As pictured, the
ideal table will give workers a platform for the
trays at just above their waist height. It should be
light enough to move easily, but sturdy enough to
be stable in use.
What If Weeding Flats Is Only
a Part-Time Job in My Nursery?
The weeding table is still a good investment. Lots
of nursery tasks other than weeding involve
stooped posture. Relief, even in a part-time job,
will help prevent long-term injury and will improve
worker performance.
How Can I Make a Weeding Table?
With simple materials from your facility's shop or
a home improvement store. The recommended
material is light-duty steel, which will hold up
under wet conditions, will not be too heavy to
move around, and can be welded with typical
shop equipment.
The drawing on this page shows 3/4"x 3/4" x 1/8"
angle iron used for the table's legs, bottom bracing,
and top bracing. The tabletop could be a
piece of metal grating welded to the frame in a
number of spots or a metal plate welded or bolted
to the top. Cost for materials
would be about $25.
Another possibility
would be to make the
table of aluminum,
which is lighter in
weight, and bolt the
parts together rather
than welding them. This
would require a hacksaw,
drill motor, wrenches,
and some additional
diagonal bracing. In any
case, the key elements
of the stand are height
and portability.
An existing table
could be retrofitted, if
you have access to a shop
and a welder. Two of the legs could be shortened
and fitted with a steel rod, two lawnmower wheels
(about $7.50 each), and push-on retaining caps,
all of which are available at hardware stores.
A collapsible four-wheeled table is available
ready-made for $227.99. This table has a push
handle and is 24" long x 19-3/4" wide x 30" high.
Contact, for example, Materials Handling
Equipment, 7433 US 30 East, Fort Wayne, IN
46803. 219-749-0475. http://63.87.5.30/
mhec/catalog.shtml
Contact Information:
This Tip Sheet was produced by the University of
California Agricultural Ergonomics Research
Center under a grant from the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health.
UC Ag Ergonomics Research Center, Bio & Ag
Engineering, UC Davis, One Shields Avenue,
Davis, CA 95616-5294.
Or visit http://ag-ergo.ucdavis.edu.
|
Weeding Stand for Plant Nurseries 
(53 pages, 1.49MB)