Prevención de accidentes laborales en la cosecha y postcosecha de banano : análisis de riesgos mecánicos en la Hacienda Bananera Delifruit S.A.

Abstract

This research analyzes the mechanical risks associated with the harvest and post-harvest processes of the Delifruit S.A. Banana Farm, located in the Balao canton, Guayas province, where the exposure of workers to falls from different levels, cuts caused by tools, blows caused by detachment of bunches and slippery surfaces constitutes a critical problem that affects occupational accidents, productivity and operating costs, a situation derived from inadequate preventive management characterized by a lack of training, insufficient provision of personal protective equipment, lack of signage in critical areas and reactive maintenance of tools and machinery, which increases vulnerability to incidents of varying severity. In accordance with classic safety theories, as well as the guidelines of the ISO 45001:2018 standard, all of this within an Ecuadorian regulatory context that shows control gaps in the agricultural sector despite its strategic importance in the national economy, especially in the banana production chain, the application of the INSST 3x3 matrix allowed the identification, measurement, and classification of risk levels, demonstrating that moderate, significant, and even intolerable risks predominate in the positions of garrucheros, corteros, and arramadores. Meanwhile, moderate and significant risks are observed in dehandlers and choppers, demonstrating the urgent need to implement a comprehensive action plan focused on periodic training, replacement of structures, strengthening of the preventive culture, preventive maintenance, and design of safety policies that guarantee the sustainability of the farm and the effective protection of its workers.