Abstract

Due to the agricultural modernization, some crops already have their production process fully realized by farm machinery. In order to enhance operational performance and reduce both fatigue and accident risk, it is fundamental to provide a safe and adequate working environment. Therefore, the working station must be adapted to the operator’s anthropometric and mechanical characteristics. The present study aimed to evaluate the anthropometric profile of agricultural tractor operators in the macro-region of Ceará state’s west coast, and check whether the tractors are up to ISO and NBR ISO standards as well as to assess the risks of heart disease to which these drivers are exposed from epidemiological studies. The experiment was conducted in nine farms located along the macro-region of the Ceará state’s west coast, in the following cities, Itapipoca, Itarema, Acaraú and Camocim with 39 agricultural tractor operators. For the samples, statistical analysis calculated were the minimum and maximum found values, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, the amplitude and the percentiles of 5, 50 and 95%. The operators of the macro-region of the Ceará west coast had a lower height average than both the national average of 1.73 m and the Ceará state mean of 1.69 m. From the ISO and NBR ISO standards specifications evaluated, it is possible to say that the standards are either inadequate or partially unsuitable for the operators evaluated.

Key words: Ergonomics, safety in agriculture, agricultural tractor, anthropometry.