Open Access
Subscription Access
Assessment of Ergonomic Parameters of Coconut Climbing Devices for Women
At present there are different models of coconut climbing devices available in the market. The safety and efficiency aspects of coconut climbing devices are not being studied for women. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate the existing models of five coconut climbing devices, sit and climb type (TNAU model), standing type (Chemberi model), KAU coconut palm climber (developed at KCAET, Tavanur, KAU), Kerasureksha (model developed at ARS, Mannuthy, KAU) and CPCRI model coconut climbing device on ergonomic basis for women operators. Minimum heart rate and energy expenditure was observed for KAU coconut palm climber than other models. The subjects felt less safety in operating TNAU model and standing type (Chemberi model). Sit and climb type (TNAU model) was found difficult to operate compared to other devices. On basis of these results it was found that KAU coconut palm climber was more suitable and ergonomically comfortable for the women operators.
Keywords
Coconut Climbing Devices, Ergonomics, Heart Rate, Energy Expenditure, Women Workers.
User
Font Size
Information
- Mehta, C. R., Gite, L. P. and Khadatkar, A., Women empowerment through agricultural mechanization in India. Curr. Sci., 2018, 114(9), 1934-1940.
- Thyagarajan, R., Kathirvel, K. K. and Jayashree, G. C., Ergonomic intervention in sugarcane harvesting knives. Afr. J. Agric. Res., 2013, 8(6), 574-581.
- Gite, L. P. and Singh, G., Ergonomics in agricultural and allied activities in India. Technical Bulletin No. CIAE/97/70. ICARCentral Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, 2009.
- Tewari, V. K., Dewangan, N. and Subrata, K., Operator’s fatigue in field operation of hand tractors. BioSyst. Eng., 2004, 89(1), 1-11.
- Sam, B. and Regeena, S., Development and ergonomic evaluation of long handle weeders for uplands. Int. J. Res. Eng. Soc. Sci., 2015, 5(6), 1-13.
- Sam, B., Physiological cost and subjective assessment of walking and riding type power tillers. In Proceedings of Second International Conference of Southeast Asian Network of Ergonomics Societies Conference (SEANES), Langkawi, Malaysia, 2012.
- Nag, P. K., Sebastian, N. C. and Malvankar, M. G., Effective heat load on agricultural workers during summer season. Indian J. Med. Res., 1980, 72, 408-415.
- Saha, P. N., Datta, S. R., Banergee, P. K. and Narayanee, G. G., An acceptable work-load for Indian workers. Ergonomics, 1979, 22(9), 1059-1071.
- Bridger, R. S., Introduction to Ergonomics, McGraw-HIll, New York, 3rd edn, 1995.
- Sam, B., Ergonomic evaluation of paddy seeder and rotary weeder with women operators. In Proceedings of 19th Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, Melbourne, Australia, 2015.
- Corlett, E. N. and Bishop, R. P., A technique for assessing postural discomfort. Ergonomics, 1976, 19, 175-182.
- Mohankumar, A. P., Anantha Krishnan, D. and Kathirvel, K., Development of ergo refined coconut tree climbing device. Afr. J. Agric. Res., 2013, 8(44), 5530-5537.
Abstract Views: 280
PDF Views: 98