Ergonomic study of the greening inspectors activity of the state of São Paulo

• Grant number: 09/04636-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2009
• End date: February 28, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Nilton Luiz Menegon
• Grantee: Glaucia Helena Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Greening or huanglongbing-HBL is a disease that has been causing lot of damage to orange producers, especially in São Paulo state, due to the difficulty to solve it. The problem has to be focused at the early identification of the sick plants by the inspectors, otherwise the sick trees keep transmitting the disease to the whole orchard. In sight of this, this activity lacks a study focused on ergonomics basis, in order to understand the work's concerned complexity and suggest possible solutions. The aim of this study will be to investigate the greening inspectors' activity to understand the physical, cognitive and psychic aspects involved in the task accomplishment and, finally, elucidate which aspects, not clarified yet, make the disease (greening) identification hard. The studies will be held at the São Paulo state's zones that are fiscalized by Fundecitrus - Fundo de Defesa da Citricultura. The method adopted Will be Work Ergonomics Analysis proposed by Guèrrin (2001), that comprehends demand analysis, technical environment analyses, economic and social analysis, activity and work situation analysis, results restitution, ergonomics recommendations, intervention and efficiency recommendations validation. The research will be support by Fundecitrus with the supply of analyses equipments and transportation expenses.