Anthropometric Measurement of Thai Older Farmers for Agricultural Tools and Workplace Design

Abstract

Agricultural workers usually perform most occupational operations manually. Mismatch between farmers’ anthropometric dimensions and tools or equipment are known to be contributing factors related discomfort, fatigue, injuries, and biomechanical stress to the users, especially for older farmers. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 197 male and 284 female older farmers in Nong Suea District, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. The convenience sampling method was used to select the subjects. Thirty-three anthropometric dimensions were measured. The mean; standard deviations; coefficients of variation; independent t-test; and 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile values were determined. The results revealed differences between dimensions for men and women, indicating that men showed prominent results. Moreover, there was a comparison between some dimensions with the results of other counties. The findings of this study provide values of anthropometric data in the aging population of Thailand. Implementing anthropometric data to reduce the mismatch between the aging workers and their work performance is crucial for designing farm tools and designing a safe variety of products and a healthy environment for the elderly.

Keywords

• ergonomics
• product design
• safety
• Thai farmers
• hand tool