ERGONOMIC EVALUATION OF A MULTIPURPOSE SHOVEL-CUM-HOE FOR MANUAL MATERIAL HANDLING

Shovel, spade and hoe are common implements used in different types of manual material handling (MMH) tasks. So far, to our knowledge, only a few studies have been undertaken to develop a special ergonomically designed tool which will serve the purposes of both the shovel and the hoe. Based on the direct observations and different ergonomic studies on the actual use of the conventional shovel and hoe in different MMH tasks, different prototypes of the combined tool with adjustable leng th of the handle were made and improved upon after several trials. Des ign dimensions, physiological responses, productivity and the subjecti ve rating of perceived exertion and the responses of the workers regar ding its acceptance by them were studied. It was observed that with th e new, ergonomically designed prototype both the purposes of the shove l and the hoe could be attained. The new design is well accepted by th e workers. Relevance to industry Notwithstanding the pace of recent te chnological advances, the majority of the world population, especially in underdeveloped and industrially developing countries, use shovel, spade, and hoe for operations in agriculture, building construction wo rk, mines, railway yards, docks, factories, etc., for different MMH ta sks. So, if the newly designed implement could bring about even a slig ht improvement in the work method, it would benefit a large number of industrial and agricultural workers in the developing countries.