Vol. 10, Special Issue 8 (2025)

Author(s): Sushant Bhardwaj, Radhna Gupta, Sheikh Aadil Mushtaq, Obaid Zaffar and Rajinder Kumar

Abstract: Livestock farming in hilly regions presents unique challenges due to difficult terrain and physically demanding tasks, which often result in significant ergonomic strain for workers. This study investigates the development and ergonomic evaluation of a manual dung scraper designed to alleviate physical strain, enhance work efficiency, and improve worker comfort during dung collection. Conducted in the hilly terrains of Himachal Pradesh, India, the research involved 40 livestock workers (20 male and 20 female) and aimed to compare the ergonomic performance of the developed tool with conventional dung collection methods. The findings revealed substantial reductions in physiological strain for both male and female workers when using the manual dung scraper. Average heart rate (HRavg) significantly decreased from 137.5 bpm (conventional method) to 122.1 bpm (developed scraper) for males, and from 144.7 bpm to 129.5 bpm for females, indicating a notable reduction in cardiovascular strain. Additionally, oxygen consumption (VO? work) and energy expenditure (EE work) showed significant reductions, suggesting a lower metabolic demand when using the developed tool. Subjective comfort assessments, measured by the Overall Discomfort Rating (ODR), also demonstrated a marked improvement, with ODR scores dropping from 9.0 (high discomfort) to 5.0 (moderate discomfort) during dung scraping with the conventional method, and further improving with the developed scraper. These results demonstrate that the manual dung scraper significantly reduces physical strain, energy expenditure, and psychological discomfort, thus improving worker comfort and overall productivity. The innovation offers a more ergonomically efficient solution for livestock farmers, particularly in hilly regions, enhancing work sustainability and potentially reducing long-term health risks associated with repetitive manual labour. This research highlights the importance of ergonomic tools in promoting both worker well-being and operational efficiency in agriculture, ultimately improving the quality of life for farmers in challenging environments.