Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Review of anthropometric considerations for agricultural equipment design: a systematic review

  • Review papers
  • Published:
International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anthropometric indicators in farmers, as important indices in designing agricultural tools and equipment, should be considered more than before. Therefore, anthropometric indicators in farmers were reviewed. In this study, all the articles including original research papers, review articles, and technical notes in the English language were studied without time limits and using the keywords of agriculture, farmer, and anthropometry from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Based on the results, anthropometric indicators differed among the farmers in different countries and even those in different regions of each country. The results of anthropometric data in farmers were not constant over time; therefore, it is necessary to periodically measure these indicators. Different anthropometric indicators should be considered based on the design of which agricultural hand tools or machines. Considering the high importance of farming in the economy of each country and the high risk of musculoskeletal disorders in these occupations, it is critical to pay attention to the principles of ergonomics in designing agricultural tools and equipment in order to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, the latest data on the anthropometry of each region in each country, which were done periodically, should be used in designing agricultural tools. However, due to the limited number of studies reviewed in this study, more works should be conducted in future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abood AM, Lawrence A, Moses SC (2015) Anthropometric data of agricultural workers of Allahabad region. Eur Acad Res 3(4):4251–4260

    Google Scholar 

  • Acharya G (1975) Electronics Control systems for ground Transportation and Energy Conversion. IETE J Res 21(4):185–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agrawal K, Singh R, Satapathy K (2010) Anthropometric considerations of farm tools/machinery design for tribal workers of northeastern India. Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal 12(1):143–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson E, Lundqvist P (2014) Gendered agricultural space and safety: towards embodied, situated knowledge. J Agromed 19(3):303–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aririguzo J, Nnadi D (2017) Anthropomertric dimensions of farmers in Mbaise nation of Imo state Nigeria. Am J Eng Res 6(7):11–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Bank W (2008) Agriculture for Development. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWDRS/Resources/477365-1327599046334/WDR_00_book.pdf

  • Basher A, Nath P, Siddique Z, Rahman M, Rubel M, Sayed M et al (2015) Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) among agricultural workers. Mymensingh Med J: MMJ 24(1):1

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatt H, Sidhu M (2012) An epidemiological study to assess fatigue patterns at kitchen workstation. J Hum Ecol 39(1):19–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya S, Misra A, Sarma KK (2019) DPLLs in wireless communication: current state and trends—a literature survey. Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India) Series B 100(6):627–647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birabi BN, Dienye P (2012) Prevalence of low back pain among peasant farmers in a rural community in South South Nigeria. Afr J Med Med Sci 34(3):259–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Das B (2014) Agricultural work related injuries among the farmers of West Bengal, India. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot 21(3):205–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewangan K, Owary C, Datta R (2010) Anthropometry of male agricultural workers of north-eastern India and its use in design of agricultural tools and equipment. Int J Ind Ergon 40(5):560–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dianat I, Karimi MA, Hashemi AA, Bahrampour S (2013) Classroom furniture and anthropometric characteristics of Iranian high school students: proposed dimensions based on anthropometric data. Appl Ergon 44(1):101–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dianat I, Molenbroek J, Castellucci HI (2018) A review of the methodology and applications of anthropometry in ergonomics and product design. Ergonomics 61(12):1696–1720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixit J, Namgial D, Sharma S, Lohan SK, Kumar D (2014) Anthropometric survey of farm workers of Ladakh region of India and its application in equipment design. Agric Eng Int CIGR J 16(2):80–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Estill CF, Baron S, Steege AL (2002) Research and dissemination needs for ergonomics in agriculture. Public Health Rep 117(5):440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritzsche M, Löhlein O (2000) Sensor fusion for the detection of landmines. Subsurf Sens Technol Appl 1(2):247–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gangopadhyay S, Ghoshal G, Ara T, Das T, Dev S, Ghosh T et al (2009) Ergonomics study on musculoskeletal disorders among female agricultural workers of West Bengal, India. Ergonomics SA: Journal of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa 21(1):11–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghaderi E, Maleki A, Dianat I (2014) Design of combine harvester seat based on anthropometric data of Iranian operators. Int J Ind Ergon 44(6):810–816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grewal GS, Rajpurohit BS (2019) Energy management by role of energy-efficient machines and rescheduling of transformer load in Steel Rolling Mill: a case study. J Inst Eng (India): Ser B 100(3):277–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahnavi VS, Ahamed SF (2015) Smart wireless sensor network for automated greenhouse. IETE J Res 61(2):180–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaewdok T, Sirisawasd S, Taptagaporn S (2020) Agricultural risk factors related musculoskeletal disorders among older farmers in Pathum Thani Province. Thailand. J Agromedicine 26(2):185–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2020.1795029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang M-Y, Lee M-J, Chung H, Shin D-H, Youn K-W, Im S-H et al (2016) Musculoskeletal disorders and agricultural risk factors among Korean farmers. J Agromedicine 21(4):353–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kar SK, Ghosh S, Paul R, De S, Dhara PC (2012) Ergonomical evaluation of occupational problems of women workers in agricultural tasks’. Int J Basic Appl Physiol 1(1):103–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Khatua P, Murugesan S, Murali V (2019) Estimation and Analysis of Harmonics and Power Factor Correction in a Modern Steel Manufacturing Facility. J Inst Eng (India): Ser B 100(5):425–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar N, Jayasankar V (2013) Design and construction of low cost high voltage dc power supply for constant power operation. J Inst Eng (India): Ser B 94(2):93–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Kim H, Hancke GP (2012) Environmental monitoring systems: a review. IEEE Sens J 13(4):1329–1339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leigh JP, Sheetz R (1989) Prevalence of back pain among fulltime United States workers. Occup Environ Med 46(9):651–657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leino-Arjas P, Hänninen K, Puska P (1998) Socioeconomic variation in back and joint pain in Finland. Eur J Epidemiol 14(1):79–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy B, Wegman D (1996) Occupational health-recognizing and preventing work-related disease. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 10(11):1248

    Google Scholar 

  • López-Aragón L, López-Liria R, Callejón-Ferre Á-J, Pérez-Alonso J (2018) Musculoskeletal disorders of agricultural workers in the greenhouses of Almería (Southeast Spain). Saf Sci 109:219–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMillan M, Trask C, Dosman J, Hagel L, Pickett W, Team S. F. I. C. S (2015) Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among Saskatchewan farmers. J Agromed 20(3): 292-301

  • Meyers JM, Miles JA, Faucett J, Janowitz I, Tejeda DG, Kabashima JN (1997) Ergonomics in agriculture: workplace priority setting in the nursery industry. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 58(2):121–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mokdad M (2002) Anthropometric study of Algerian farmers. Int J Ind Ergon 29(6):331–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monazzam Esmaielpour M, Golbabaei F, Khodayari F, Aazam K (2015) Survey of the productivity loss due to heat stress in different tasks of farmers in Darreh Shahr city. Health Safety Work 5(3):63–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugisa DJ, Katimbo A, Sempiira JE, Kisaalita WS (2016) Anthropometric characteristics of female smallholder farmers of Uganda-Toward design of labor-saving tools. Appl Ergon 54:177–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mwakitalima IJ, Rizwan M, Kumar N (2021) Standalone solar photovoltaic electricity supply to rural household in tanzania. IETE J Res (in press) 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/03772063.2021.1920854

  • Notarnicola C, D’Alessio AC, Posa F, Casarano D, Sabatelli V (2003) Use of a C-band ground-based scatterometer to monitor surface roughness and soil moisture changes. Subsurf Sens Technol Appl 4(2):187–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obi OF, Ugwuishiwu BO, Adeboye BS (2015) A survey of anthropometry of rural agricultural workers in Enugu State, south-eastern Nigeria. Ergonomics 58(6):1032–1044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okunribido OO (2000) A survey of hand anthropometry of female rural farm workers in Ibadan. Western Nigeria Ergonomics 43(2):282–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Onuoha S, Idike F, Oduma O (2012) Anthropometry of south eastern Nigeria agricultural workers. Int J Eng Technol 2(6):962–968

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne A, Blake C, McNamara J, Meredith D, Phelan J, Cunningham C (2010) Musculoskeletal disorders among Irish farmers. Occup Med 60(8):598–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne A, Blake C, Fullen BM, Meredith D, Phelan J, McNamara J et al (2012) Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among farmers: a systematic review. Am J Ind Med 55(2):143–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park H, Sprince NL, Whitten PS, Burmeister LF, Zwerling C (2001) Risk factors for back pain among male farmers: analysis of Iowa Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance Study. Am J Ind Med 40(6):646–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patel MK, Sahoo HK, Ghanshyam C (2016) High voltage generation for charging of liquid sprays in air-assisted electrostatic nozzle system. IETE J Res 62(3):424–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pheasant S, Haslegrave CM (2005) Bodyspace: Anthropometry, ergonomics and the design of work. CRC Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Potdar A, Potdar D (2020) Electrical Energy Conservation Aspects in Indian Railways. J Inst Eng (India): Ser B 101(2):177–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Pranith S, Kumar S, Singh B, Bhatti T (2019) Design and control of a multifunctional grid-connected battery energy storage with enhanced performance using SOGI. J Inst Eng (India): Ser B 100(4):321–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinones H, Ruelle P (2001) Operative calibration methodology of a TDR sensor for soil moisture monitoring under irrigated crops. Subsurf Sens Technol Appl 2(1):31–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosecrance J, Rodgers G, Merlino L (2006) Low back pain and musculoskeletal symptoms among Kansas farmers. Am J Ind Med 49(7):547–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roser, M. (2013). Employment in Agriculture. https://ourworldindata.org/employment-in-agriculture

  • Sadeghi N, Delshad A, Fani MJ (2010) REBA method posture analysis in Saffron pickers in Gonabad. Horizon Med Sci 15(4):47–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahasrabuddhe H (1983) Industrial uses of microcomputers in India. IETE J Res 29(12):581–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sampath S (1978) Electronics engineering education in India: a review. IETE J Res 24(10–11):453–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen A (1993) Millimeter wave applications in strategic areas. IETE J Res 39(6):379–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skovron M, Szpalski M, Nordin M, Melot C, Cukier D (1994) Sociocultural factors and back pain. A population-based study in Belgian adults. Spine 19(2):129–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stål M, Englund J-E (2005) Gender difference in prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms among Swedish pig farmers. J Agric Saf Health 11(1):7–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villarejo D, McCurdy SA (2008) The California agricultural workers health survey. J Agric Saf Health 14(2):135–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viviani C, Arezes P, Braganca S, Molenbroek J, Dianat I, Castellucci H (2018) Accuracy, precision and reliability in anthropometric surveys for ergonomics purposes in adult working populations: a literature review. Int J Ind Ergon 65:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vyas R (2012) Mitigation of musculoskeletal problems and body discomfort of agricultural workers through educational intervention. Work 41(Supplement 1):2398–2404

    Google Scholar 

  • Wibowo RKK, Soni P (2014) Anthropometry and agricultural hand tool design for Javanese and Madurese farmers in east Java, Indonesia. APCBEE Proc 8:119–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav R, Tewari V, Prasad N (1997) Anthropometric data of Indian farm workers: a module analysis. Appl Ergon 28(1):69–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Student Research Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

Funding

No funding used in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

AAM involved in the conception and designing the study, performed data analysis and interpretation, and wrote the manuscript. ID supervised the development of work, helped in data interpretation and manuscript evaluation. SSM helped to evaluate and edit the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amirreza Abouee-Mehrizi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Ethical approval

This study approved by Student Research Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

Consent for publication

The authors, give their consent for the publication of identifiable details, which can include photograph(s) and/or videos and/or case history and/or details within the text (“Material”) to be published in the International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management. Therefore, anyone can read material published in the Journal.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abouee-Mehrizi, A., Saed-Moucheshi, S. & Dianat, I. Review of anthropometric considerations for agricultural equipment design: a systematic review. Int J Syst Assur Eng Manag 13, 571–581 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-021-01353-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-021-01353-y

Keywords

JEL Code

Navigation