Desain Konseptual Knapsack Sprayer untuk Budidaya Kelapa Sawit melalui Pendekatan Ergonomi.

Abstract

Designing a tool/machine needs ergonomics aprroach in order to match between man-machine system. One of the important tools in oil palm cultivation is knapsack sprayer. This study was conducted in aiming to understand risk occupational knapsack sprayer operation. So, ergonomic analysis is needed for these activities to understand the need of intervention to reduce the risks of working and complaints that occur. Based on Nordic Body Map questionnaire, the operator of knapsack sprayer suffered muscular fatigue and pain on the leg (28%), the left upper arm (27%) and the neck (14%). Based on the Range of Motion’s criteria, dangerous zone (Zone 3) were identified on hip flexion, shoulder flexion and neck flexion. Futhermore, REBA method was applied to evaluate the work posture in detail. The REBA revealed that score of 8 or more were resulted on “Loading”, “Pumping”, and “Spraying” work elements. These mean that the work element were high level of MSD’s risk, thus changing in the working condition is needed soon. Workload analysis found that 17 kg of total weight knapsack sprayer with the dimension of knapsack sprayer’s tank is (390 x 171 x 534) mm and pump lever length is 720 mm. Recomamanded resting time for knapsack sprayer operator is 125 minutes for 4 hours efective working time.