Title: The effectiveness of ergonomic rice transplanter in reducing awkward posture, physical workload and working duration among farmers during the manual transplanting process

Authors: Totsapon Butmee; Worawit Intrchom; Ruedeerat Mahaboonpeeti

Addresses: Faculty of Public Health, Naresuan University, 65000, Thailand ' Faculty of Public Health, Naresuan University, 65000, Thailand ' Faculty of Public Health, Naresuan University, 65000, Thailand

Abstract: In the manual rice transplanting process, a farmer needs repetitive movements with awkward postures. This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an ergonomic rice transplanter to reduce awkward posture, physical workload and working duration during manual transplanting process. The awkward posture (REBA scores), physical workload (%CVL) and working duration were compared between three rice transplanting methods. Twenty rice farmers participated in this study. The REBA scores while using ergonomic-tool rice planting was significantly lower than tool assisted rice planting and Traditional rice planting. In addition, the physical workload (%CVL), while using ergonomic-tool rice planting was significantly lower than using tool assisted rice planting and traditional rice planting. The results clearly indicated that the ergonomic rice transplanter had high efficiency in eliminating the awkward posture and significantly reduced the physical workload. It could be suggested that rice farmers should use ergonomic rice planters to prevent ergonomic risk factors.

Keywords: ergonomics; rice transplanter; awkward posture; physical workload.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2024.139189

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2024 Vol.11 No.2, pp.208 - 222

Received: 18 Sep 2023
Accepted: 26 Mar 2024
Published online: 24 Jun 2024 *

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