Anthropometric model and obesity index of agricultural tractor operators

Abstract

This work evaluates the anthropometric model of agricultural tractor operators, presenting a diagnosis of the control instruments’ position and the nutritional state of the operators. One hundred and twenty-seven agricultural tractors operators were interviewed, of which 23 were selected for the anthropometric evaluation. A rural company, a farm, a farmers’ meeting and a tractor dealership were selected for the data collection. Twenty-three anthropometric measurements of each operator were collected and arranged in a table with the dimensions of all operators, presenting statistical results in a 90% confidence interval. Two types of tractors of medium mass and similar power, representing the largest portion of the market, were used. The positioning of the tractors’ controls and their interactions with the operators’ area of reach, as well as their accessibility in the command position, were evaluated. The nutritional state of the tractor operators was studied, as well as the relationship of their body mass index with their age. The results show that there was no difference between the general operator types in South Brazil in regard to the measures of their height when standing erect. Seven of the operators who presented BMIs with characteristics of obesity within the normal range were less than 38 years old, and those with characteristics of pre-obesity and obesity were more than 38 years old. Key words: Ergonomics, control instruments, command position, body mass index.