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Commonly Used Subjective Effort Scales May Not Predict Directly Measured Physical Workloads and Fatigue in Hispanic Farmworkers

Author

Listed:
  • Ornwipa Thamsuwan

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada)

  • Kit Galvin

    (Department of Environment and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA)

  • Pablo Palmandez

    (Department of Environment and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA)

  • Peter W. Johnson

    (Department of Environment and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA)

Abstract

In North America, Hispanic migrant farmworkers are being exposed to occupational ergonomic risks. Due to cultural differences in the perception and reporting of effort and pain, it was unknown whether standardized subjective ergonomic assessment tools could accurately estimate the directly measured their physical effort. This study investigated whether the subjective scales widely used in exercise physiology were associated with the direct measures of metabolic load and muscle fatigue in this population. Twenty-four migrant apple harvesters participated in this study. The Borg RPE in Spanish and the Omni RPE with pictures of tree-fruit harvesters were used for assessing overall effort at four time points during a full-day 8-h work shift. The Borg CR10 was used for assessing local discomfort at the shoulders. To determine whether there were associations between the subjective and direct measures of overall exertion measures, we conducted linear regressions of the percentage of heart rate reserve (% HRR) on the Borg RPE and Omni RPE. In terms of local discomfort, the median power frequency (MPF) of trapezius electromyography (EMG) was used for representing muscle fatigue. Then full-day measurements of muscle fatigue were regressed on the Borg CR10 changes from the beginning to the end of the work shift. The Omni RPE were found to be correlated with the % HRR. In addition, the Borg RPE were correlated to the % HRR after the break but not after the work. These scales might be useful for certain situations. In terms of local discomfort, the Borg CR10 were not correlated with the MPF of EMG and, therefore, could not replace direct measurement.

Suggested Citation

  • Ornwipa Thamsuwan & Kit Galvin & Pablo Palmandez & Peter W. Johnson, 2023. "Commonly Used Subjective Effort Scales May Not Predict Directly Measured Physical Workloads and Fatigue in Hispanic Farmworkers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2809-:d:1058309
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bindu Panikkar & Mary-Kate Barrett, 2021. "Precarious Essential Work, Immigrant Dairy Farmworkers, and Occupational Health Experiences in Vermont," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Yuko Caballero & Takafumi J. Ando & Satoshi Nakae & Chiyoko Usui & Tomoko Aoyama & Motofumi Nakanishi & Sho Nagayoshi & Yoko Fujiwara & Shigeho Tanaka, 2019. "Simple Prediction of Metabolic Equivalents of Daily Activities Using Heart Rate Monitor without Calibration of Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
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