A comparative study on human drudgery by rice transplanting: an ergonomic approach

Abstract

This study was carried out in Kalinagar village of U.S. Nagar, District of Uttarakhand state in 2011. Experimental research design was used in this study. A total sample size was 40 in which 20 male and 20 female farm workers were selected randomly for experimental data. Mean, percentile values, heart rate, energy expenditure, total cardiac cost of work, physiological cost of work, per cent deviation of hand grip strength were calculated. Maximum heart rate was more in case of traditional method of rice transplanting i.e.119.5 beats/min. as compared to improved method i.e. 107.47 beats/min. Average and peak energy expenditure was less in case of improved method. Energy expenditure, Total cardiac cost of work and physiological cost of work was found 10.28 Kj/min, 840.42 beats and 55.43 beats, respectively in case of traditional method and 8.36 Kj/min, 572.71 beats and 36.9 beats, respectively for improved method. To solve the problem of high physiological workload, human drudgery and physiological stress mechanical rice transplanting could be considered as the most promising option.