Ergonomic Assessment of Upper Limb Movements in Rose Cultivation Using a Custom Data Acquisition System

The floriculture sector in Ecuador has grown rapidly in recent decades, becoming one of the country's most important economic sectors. This sector generates a high demand for labor, especially in activities that require repetitive movements, physical effort and prolonged postures, such as harvesting and packing roses. These activities have been associated with an increase in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), particularly in the upper extremities. These health problems not only impact workers' quality of life, but also reduce productivity and increase costs associated with absenteeism and medical treatment. Despite the importance of mitigating these risks, real-time ergonomic assessment remains a challenge due to the lack of accessible, accurate and easy-to-implement technologies in the workplace. That is why we implemented technological solutions with smart devices, such as Kinect V2, which helped us to monitor and analyze workers' movements in real time. These tools provided accurate and objective data that supported the identification and prevention of ergonomic risks. The data acquisition system focused on the ergonomic assessment of the upper limbs at relevant points: wrists, shoulder and elbow, during rose harvesting and packing activities. This system used advanced technologies to collect and analyze data automatically, allowing to identify risks and propose corrective measures to optimize working conditions in the floriculture sector.