Clam's production floating platform

Aquaculture is a growing industry. In Portugal, the sector is mainly focused on fish and shellfish production, developed in tanks, rafts, suspension, network structures and estuaries. This study defines the issues regarding with clam's production and identifies injuries that workers may endure. To perform the injury analysis, a field study at the company. The production site set at lagoon old saltpans. It consists of an innovative production method that uses the marine resources in to create the possibility of using lanterns in a closed system (tanks). The lanterns weight leads to some problems related with their transport from the water to the platform, which can create lessions to the worker. Also, the sludge accumulation on the tanks may cause falls that ultimately can cause death by drowning. Therefore, this study aims to develop a floating platform, which will serve as a floating base for clams harvesting with the following main purposes: prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries, increase the worker's safety and assist the clam's production. Answering those requirements the platform intends to facilitate the harvest of the lanterns with the help of a pulleys system, reducing the workers physical effort. The extensible cable, held on the worker's waist and on the platform, aims to prevent accidents. This case study concludes with several recommendations for the development of products to improve the conditions of work in the floating platforms, namely in terms of the usability and security.