Ergonomic Aspects Related to Mobile Agricultural Machinery Operators

Abstract

Ergonomics is the key to make the machine “worker friendly”. In this paper, the humble effort is carried out to present the outline of the tractor industry of India as well as Ukraine for the subsequent analysis of the operator's working conditions and negative production factors that affect his health. Experiment was conducted in Ukraine for three different tractor models i.e. HTZ-181, HTZ-200, HTZ-200B. Vibrations were measured at frame between cab brackets (on left side member), cab floor at the operator's feet and cab frame (on rear crossmember at the rear window base) for plowing and harrowing operations. Research of structural elements vibration parameters of some tractor models (for harrowing and plowing operation) showed that the cab frame has the highest vibration activity in the vertical direction with a peak in the octave band with a geometric mean frequency of 16 Hz. In the transverse direction, the tractor frame has the highest vibration acceleration amplitude, while the maximum vibration acceleration amplitude falls on the octave band of 16 Hz, but its value is two times lower than in the vertical direction. It was also observed that the amplitudes of vibration accelerations of the elements of the tested tractors during plowing the field had higher values than during harrowing, but these excesses were not significant. Analysis of the test results shows that the tractors' suspensions have practically the same vibration characteristics, and therefore, it is recommended to conduct further studies of the parameters of general vibration (on the operator's seat) and local vibration (on the steering wheel) in order to assess the tractor operator' working conditions, his safety and develop technical solutions to improve the devices/machines. The study practical value and originality consists in identifying the structural elements of mobile agricultural machinery (for example, tractors) that have the highest vibrations, which affect the operator for their further improvement, but not for replacing the machinery. This approach to improving the working conditions of mobile agricultural machinery operators is driven by the country's weak economy and can be beneficial for developing countries in the face of a lack of funds to purchase new ergonomic machines.