Determination of Ergonomic Factors of the Backpack Blowers Used in the Windrow of Hazelnuts

Abstract

Ergonomics plays an important role in the design and use of agricultural machinery to protect the health and safety of workers. Lack of ergonomic design negatively affects worker discomfort and safety. Therefore, ergonomic design should ensure that workers can work comfortably, maintain correct posture, and minimize the risk of injury. Especially workers using backpack machines are exposed to physical fatigue, posture problems, risk of injury, and ergonomic effects due to vibration and noise. Considering all these, this study was conducted to determine the ergonomic factors (ergonomic analysis of the operator's working posture, operator's fatigue values, noise level, and dust concentration) that the operator is exposed to as a result of different body positions and moving the air diverter hose while using the backpack type blowers used to windrow the kernel+husked nuts falling on the orchard ground during the hazelnut harvest period. According to this, in all three ergonomic risk methods, the operator's body posture was found to be risky, and ergonomic adjustments were needed. Again, the operator's fatigue value, noise level, and dust concentration were obtained as 10.43 kcal min-1, 91.70 dB(A)-106.20 dB(A) (average 98.95 dB(A)), 19.241-21.390 mg m-3-air ( average 20.315 mg m-3-air), respectively. The identification of ergonomic factors is also very important to improve the user experience, prevent occupational accidents, and improve machine performance in general. With the identification of these factors, optimized solutions for the safety and comfort of users will be put forward by adopting a human-centered approach in machine design.