Approach for ergonomic assessment of self-propelled combine harvester seats based on anthropometric body dimensions

Abstract

Objectives. The seat dimensions of self-propelled combine harvesters are designed without consideration of body dimensions of the user population and vary with make and models of combines. Methods. This research proposes a method to determine the percentage of seat match, upper mismatch and lower mismatch using the anthropometric body dimensions of Indian harvester operators. The seat dimensions of five popular combine harvester makes were measured and compared to the body dimensions of the operators. Results. The selected seats had 100, 44-70, 81-96, 98-100, 63-83, 59-94 and 55-97% mismatch for seat height, seat length, seat pan breadth, seat backrest height, upper backrest breadth, lower backrest breadth and steering wheel clearance, respectively. These data were used to recommend seat dimensions for combine harvesters. Seat height, seat length, seat pan breadth, seat backrest height, upper backrest breadth, lower backrest breadth and steering wheel clearance are recommended as 399, 362, 456, 400, 243, 386 and 190 mm, respectively. Conclusions. The recommended seat dimensions matched the user population anthropometric dimensions 94-100%. This approach will help to assess seat dimensions based on anthropometric data for a comfortable posture to prevent health risks such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among operators.

Keywords: combine operator; match and mismatch; seat design; seat dimensions.