Ergonomical evaluation of hand operated maize dehusker-sheller with farm women

Abstract

Hand operated maize dehusker-sheller was ergonomically evaluated with tenfarm women to assess the physiological workload and its performancein standing and sitting postures.  Two workers are required during its operation, i.e., one for hand cranking and another for feeding the cob.  One by one cob (without removing its outer layer/sheath) was fed in hopper at an interval of about 4 s.  Farm women operated the equipment at their rhythmic speed in both postures.  The average heart rate of subject was 144 and 142 beats min^-1in standing and sitting postures, respectively.  The overall discomfort rating (ODR) and Body Parts Discomfort Score(BPDS) clearly indicated that the standing posture could be better option for operation of this equipment.  This was found to reduce the physiological cost by 38.95% and 21.62% in dehusking& shelling the maize cob with hand, and dehusking by hand & shelling by octagonal maize sheller respectively.

Keywords: hand cranking, maize threshing, maize, physiological workload, heart rate, women