Ergonomic risk assessment of agricultural tractors: a systematic review of literature

Abstract

Agriculture plays a vital role in a country’s economy and development by providing food, employment, and economic contributions. Mechanization of processes such as land preparation, threshing, grinding, and milling improves productivity and product quality, prompting many developing countries to import standardized agricultural machinery. However, many technologies overlook occupational health and ergonomic principles, leading to operator–machine mismatches, limited adjustability, and repetitive tasks that increase safety risks. This highlights the need to adapt imported mechanized technologies to local conditions while minimizing risks to workers. Among agricultural machinery, tractors are essential but are also a leading source of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the sector. Integrating ergonomic considerations into tractor design is therefore critical to enhance both safety and performance. This study systematically reviews existing literature on the risk assessment of agricultural mechanization and emerging technologies, with a focus on tractors. Relevant literature was collected from the SCOPUS database using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. VOSviewer software was used to analyze keyword trends and their co-occurrences. The initial search was limited to publications from 2015 to the present, yielding 2,614 documents. Further screening based on publication year, subject area, document type, journal ranking, language, and conceptual relevance reduced the dataset to 165 documents for final review. The review examined operator health and safety risks associated with tractor operations, including operation types, risk factors, and ergonomic assessment methods. Findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of tractor ergonomics, particularly during real-world implement use, and of the interactions among vibration, posture, muscle workload, and comfort. The results also highlight the importance of ergonomic evaluations that integrate observational, instrumental, and self-report methods.

Keywords: Agricultural Tractors, Ergonomic Risk Assessment, Human Factors And Ergonomics

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007803