Dept. of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004, India.
1Dept. of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Tura, Meghalaya, 794001, India.
Study was undertaken on 30 farm women within the age group of 21–40 years to design and test some improved tools for performing the activity of cleaning animal sheds for reducing ergonomic cost. Ergonomic cost of work was assessed by heart rate, energy expenditure, total cardiac cost of work (TCCW), physiological cost of work and rated perceived exertion (RPE). Heart rate was measured with heart rate monitor and other parameters were derived from the heart rate values. RPE was calculated on 5-point scale ranging from 1–5. Results showed that improved tools for cleaning animal shed such as dung collector, long handled broom, spade and the double wheel barrow reduced the ergonomic cost of work to a significant extent in terms of heart rate, energy expenditure, TCCW, PCW and RPE.
