Ergonomical Studies on Agricultural Workers for Selected Farm Operations
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Date
2003
Authors
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Publisher
MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
Manual tools and animal- drawn implements are extensively used for different farm operations in
the country and Rajasthan. These agricultural tools/implements are not designed ergonomically,
and this leads to increase in accidents and health hazards to agricultural workers. Proper matching
of machine requirements with operator’s capabilities is necessary to achieve better performance.
The use of female anthropometric data along with those of the male can help in the proper
designing of new equipment and modifying the existing machine. Twenty-eight body dimensions
including weight of the subject useful in agricultural equipment design were identified and
measured from 50 male and 50 female agricultural workers of the region. Mean, standard
deviation, standard error, 5th and 95th percentile, range and stature ratio were estimated for each
body dimension. These were compared with anthropometric data of other regions of the country.
These body dimensions were correlated with stature. Three male subjects and three female
subjects were selected from anthropometric consideration to represent 95th, 50th and 5th percentile
of the population of the region. These subjects were used in field trials for ergonomical and
mechanical evaluation with selected farm implements for sowing, weeding, and spraying
operations and cob-picking operation. Physiological cost and body discomfort were evaluated.
The mean value of stature, weight, 5th and 95th percentile of stature for male and female
agricultural workers were 166.7 cm, 53 kg, 156.9 cm, 176.5 cm and 153.7 cm, 44.3 kg, 143.6 cm,
163.7 cm respectively. Linear relationship was found between most of the body measurements
and stature for agricultural workers of the region. All body measurements except hip breadth of
female subjects were found smaller than the male subjects. The mean ΔHR, ODR and BPDS for
male subjects during sowing with seed drill method were 23.5, 15.2 and 19.3 per cent lower than
behind the plough method. The mean HR, for male and female subjects during weeding with
kudali, wheel hoe, indigenous plough and 2- tine cultivator were 142.3, 123.5, 116.5, 116.3 and
140.4, 139.7, 138.3, 138.5 beats/min respectively. The mean HR, ODR and BPDS for male and
female subjects during cob-picking operation were 103.8 beats/min, 2.77, 26.67 and 111.2
beats/min, 3.52, 31.83 respectively. The mean HR, ODR, BPDS for male and female subjects for
pedaling task during spraying with foot sprayer were 99.3 beats/min, 6.76, 53.0 and 121.2
beats/min, 8.87, 66.1 respectively. Male subjects were found to be superior to their female
counter part in terms of ΔHR, ODR, BPDS and field capacity in all farm operations.
Description
Ergonomical Studies on Agricultural Workers for Selected Farm Operations
Keywords
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Citation
Rahi and mathur, 2003