Evaluación del riesgo postural mediante el método REBA en puestos seleccionados de la línea de empaquetado de una finca bananera del cantón Arenillas, provincia de El Oro.

Abstract

Abstract: The study assessed postural risk using the REBA method in the packing area of a banana farm located in Arenillas, El Oro. A quantitative, descriptive, observational, cross-sectional case study was conducted with a purposive sample of eight workers. Seven tasks were analyzed using eight videos. Records P02, P03, P04, P05, P06, and P09 were automatically processed with ErgoIA, whereas P07 and P10 were manually assessed by examining six postures per task. The automated analysis mainly showed negligible and low risk levels, although scores ranging from 4 to 7, corresponding to medium risk, were also recorded. Deflowering/cutting obtained REBA scores between 7 and 10, while palletizing scored between 9 and 11, making it the main priority for preventive action. In the automated records, the neck and forearms were the most affected body segments; in the manual assessments, the arms, trunk, and wrists showed the greatest involvement. It was concluded that REBA helped identify critical postures and guide control measures. The findings are limited to the workers, postures, and observation periods evaluated.