Isometric push/pull strength of agricultural workers of Central India
Abstract
Many manually operated farm tools and equipment require exertion of push/pull force in horizontal plane. However, very few data are available on push/pull strength of agricultural workers of India. A study was therefore, carried out to collect these data on male as well as female agricultural workers in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. A strength measurement set-up developed at CIAE, Bhopal was used for the purpose. The data were collected on 1701 agricultural workers as subjects from 20 selected districts representing various agro-climatic zones of Madhya Pradesh out of which 944 were male and 757 were female. The mean age, stature and mass of the male subjects were (29.8±9.5) years, (1649±59) mm and (51.2±6.4) kg whereas for female subjects the values were (33.7±8.2) years, (1519±54) mm and (45.0±7.3) kg, respectively. The isometric push/pull strength of male subjects was higher than those of female subjects. The mean values for isometric push and pull strength in standing posture with both hands (in horizontal plane) were (242.4±56.4) N and (231.0±42.5) N, respectively for male workers and (175.5±33.9) N and (159.4±42.9) N, respectively for female workers. The mass of the subjects indicated a positive correlation with isometric push/pull strength. The 5th percentile push and pull strength values were 149.7 N and 161.2 N for male workers and 119.7 N and 88.8 N for female workers. These values can be used to set a limit in the design of manually operated farm tools and equipment as well as for manual materials handling activities involving push/pull forces depending on the frequency of movement. Considering the ergonomical requirement of 30% of the 5th percentile strength for frequent exertions, the design limits of push and pull strengths for male workers will be 45 N and 48 N and for female it will be 36 N and 27 N. For the occasional exertions, the limit of push and pull strength is 60% of the strength which will be 90 N to 96 N for male and 72 N to 54 N for female workers.
Keywords: push/pull strength, agricultural workers, central India, agricultural machinery
Citation: Agrawal K. N., P. S. Tiwari, L. P. Gite, and V. Bhushanababu. Isometric push/pull strength of agricultural workers of Central India. Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(1): 115-124.
