This paper presents the ergonomic evaluation of a manually operated village-level cashew nut shelling machine. A manually operated cashew nut cracking machine was evaluated. Fifty subjects took part in the study, with physiological, postural, and subjective measurements being taken. Comfort Questionnaire for cashew nut cracking machine (CQC) was also evaluated. Using the machine resulted in postural discomfort. The perception of the subjects as per the efficiency of the machine was neutral; 50% accepted that the machine is efficient, while the other 50% were unsatisfied. Following a participatory ergonomic process and using appropriate anthropometric measurements, an improved, adjustable prototype was developed. The lever arm was designed based on 5th... |