WORKLOAD EVALUATION THROUGH MEASUREMENT OF OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND HEART RATE OF FARMERS IN ONE OF HORTICULTURAL FARMING AREAS

• Main Author: Fahmy Fakhrija, Muhammad
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/79336
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Work in the agricultural sector tends to be strenuous and high-risk. This study aims to evaluate the workload of farmers by measuring their maximum oxygen capacity and heart rate. This study consists of two stages, the first stage by measuring oxygen capacity and heart rate in the laboratory and the second stage by measuring heart rate when farmers work in the field. The first stage of measurement in the laboratory is using the Bruce protocol with maximum method. There were 20 farmer respondents was collected from the first stage. The first stage of measurement data, a linear regression model was generated to be used in the second stage. The second stage is to estimate the oxygen capacity of the farmers when they work in the field. The results of the first stage analysis showed that the mean and standard deviation of the maximum oxygen volume (VO2max) was 1969.71 L/min ± 496.47 or 29.39 mL/kg/min ± 6.89 and the value of oxygen capacity (VO2) on the treadmill obtained a mean and standard deviation of 1185.3 mL/kg/min ± 254.74 or 17.61 mL/kg/min. The results of the second stage, estimation using the regression model formula from the first stage, resulted in an estimated oxygen consumption value of 1.4 L/min. The comparison of the estimated oxygen consumption value with the maximum oxygen volume gives a percentage of 74%. This result shows that the farmer is close to heavy work level. All of the measurement and evaluation of workload shows that the farmers have an excessive workload experience. An ergonomic intervention is needed to reduce the workload of farmers to reduce the risk of occupational diseases and accidents at work. This study suggests improving the work system and use of work aids. Automatic and affordable tools are needed to help and complete the work of the farmer.