Ergonomic Assessment of Traditional Sickles for Paddy Harvesting by Farm Women in Eastern India

A field study was carried out to access the physiological stress of farm women worker while using sickles with different concavities for harvesting of paddy. Five sickles, procured from local manufacturers from three different states viz. Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, were compared in terms of physiological stress induced to women farm worker. Physiological stresses were quantified in terms of Overall Discomfort Rating (ODR) and Body Part Discomfort Score (BPDS). Different work output parameters viz. energy expenditure, output, cardiac cost were also measured. The sickle (30 mm concavity) procured from Bihar resulted in maximum output (35.44 m2) with minimum cardiac cost of 48.96 beats/m2. This sickle also showed minimum ODR (2.22) and BPDS (44.4) values. However, the sickle procured from Eastern UP with similar concavity showed maximum ODR (3.11) and BPDS (60.8) values. The blade geometry plays important role in human work performance. On the basis of comparative study the sickle (S1) with 30 mm concavity procured from Bihar could be recommended for harvesting paddy in Eastern India for maximum output.