Ergonomics in food production: Improving workstations to reduce disergonomic risks

Jacqueline Echevarria Caicedo V.; Sánchez Pérez J.; Arroyo Ulloa M. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2025) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2025.1.1.642

Resumen

“The purpose of this research was to propose improvements in the workstations of the production area of a food company to reduce disergonomic risks”. The methodology began with a Rapid Ergonomic Risk Assessment based on ISO 11228-1, which classified risk levels as acceptable (green) or high (red). Based on these results, ergonomic assessment methods REBA and NIOSH were applied. REBA identified six workstations with medium risk requiring intervention, and the NIOSH method determined that the maximum weight that workers should lift was 10,138 kg. The improvements implemented included the installation of five conveyor belts to eliminate the need for manual sack loading, optimization of lighting using the quadrant method, and ergonomic training for workers. After these changes, risks were reassessed, and a cost-benefit analysis of the improvements was conducted. As a result, there was a 100% reduction in risk from static postures and manual handling of loads, preventing fines from SUNAFIL amounting to S/ 27 140 and other costs of S/ 87 420. The investment, recovered in 1 year and 9 months, generated a net profit of S/ 83 603, a Net Present Value (NPV) of S/ 191 537, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 27%, and a Benefit-Cost ratio (B/C) of 1,71, demonstrating that the investment was highly profitable and viable, with a rapid recovery of the invested capital.

Instituciones: Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo