College of Agricultural Engineering, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbaotre-641 003
A study was conduted on ergonomics of selected household activities namely wet grinding, grinding of masala and mopping the floor at different postures to identify the least stressful posture The energy expenditure of the subject was estimated through indirect closed circuit calorimetry The basal metabolic rate of the subject was observed as 1150 ± 25 kcal. Wet grinding by sitting on a stool of 70 mm height resulted 15 per cent higher grinding efficiency than squatting on the floor, resulting 18 per cent saving in energy expenditure Grinding masala in standing posture saved 10 per cent energy expenditure over squatting posture Mopping the floor in standing posture resulted 50 per cent lower energy expenditure than hands and knees posture
