2017 Volume 79 Issue 1 Pages 66-73
A subject was employed for mowing slopes. An electromyogram (EMG) of the shoulders, forearms, and thighs was recorded. Work strain of the shoulders, forearms, and thighs was estimated from the integrated EMG data and mowing area. Difference between the influence of work strain of a brush cutter and that of a mower was investigated. And the machines requiring less work strain were revealed. The results indicated that during cutting, work strain using the mower was 47%, 66%, and 58% less than work strain using the brush cutter for the shoulders, forearms, and thighs, respectively. During lost time, work strain using the brush cutter was 53%, 42%, and 13% less than work strain using the mower for the shoulders, forearms, and thighs, respectively. Work strain using the mower for the overall duration of mowing slopes was 30%, 56%, and 50% less than work strain using the brush cutter for the shoulders, forearms, and thighs, respectively. Several slopes having different widths and lengths were assumed. It was observed that machines requiring less work strain varied depending on the width and length of the slopes.
