On the optimal height for apple sorting table / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The optimal height of the working table for fruits-sorting in apple orchards was studied from the viewpoint of energy metabolism using model experiment, and actual condition of theapple-sorting table was surveyed. Results:<BR>1. Oxygen consumption per minute increased by the apple sorting work were measured about the seven kinds of table height (from 40 cm to 100 cm). Supposing that the height of the working table subtracted by (stature+height of footwear) is “x” and the oxygen consumption per minute increased by the work is “Y”, the relationship between these two values can be expressed as the following quadratic equation<BR>y=0.226x<SUP>2</SUP>-20.91x+677.1<BR>Thus, it was found that the optimal height for apple sorting table was 46% of the stature including footwear height.<BR>2. The height of the fruits-sorting table used in apple orchards was usually 30-40% of the stature including footwear height of the workers, and this was found to be too low. This seems to have been caused by easygoing and perfunctory attitude or practices to the fruits-sorting work, e. g. to use the wooden boxes for apple as the substitutes for the fruits-sorting table.<BR>3. It is necessary to improve the table and to develop and propagate the better apple-sorting table from ergonomical viewpoint in order to reduce and eliminate the lumbago and fatigue among the workers engaging in the apple-sorting work.