Workload Analysis on Harvesting Activities in Oil-Palm Plantation in Riau, Indonesia

Abstract

Oil palm plantation (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) has become the main commodities in Indonesia because of producing palm oil. The growing demand of palm oil for food industries and bio-fuel has been challenging the palm oil industries for increasing the productivity of the oil-palm plantation. Harvesting activity is the most important task to gain the good productivity and quality of palm oil (CPO and PKO) [I]. Nowadays, harvesting process is still done manually where conducted in many areas with various kind of topography. In addition, there is a harvest's target that must be achieved by the labors. This condition led to many variations in productivity and quality of harvest, fatigue or physical disorder. Therefore, an increase in productivity and work for the weI fare of the harvesters has to be done by the approach and application of ergonomics. Application of ergonomics in the workplace is expected to improve productivity through improvement of safety, effectiveness, efficiency and comfort of the works [2]. This study aimed to know the rate of energy consumption and level cif fatigue in the harvesting activity. The work capacity of the harvesters will be also analyzed. By comparing the level of workburden and energy consumption of work against the workforce capacity harvesters then could be designed the proper work targets for optimal productivity in accordance with energy harvesting capacity.