Anthropometric study of farm workers on Java Island, Indonesia, and its implications for the design of farm tools and equipment

• We collected anthropometric data of farm-workers from 3 diverse regions on Java Island.
• The anthropometry was statistically different among regional groups and gender.
• We compared the anthropometry to the groups of people from eight other nations.
• We analysed the suitability of farm tools design to the anthropometry of farmers.
• Ergonomic consideration may improve the tools' design to suit them to the users.

Anthropometric data are a prerequisite for designing agricultural tools and equipment that enable workers to achieve better performance and productivity while providing better safety and comfort. A set of thirty anthropometric dimensions was collected from a total sample of 371 male and female farm-workers from three different regions (west, central and east) of Java Island, Indonesia. The mean stature is 162.0 cm and 152.5 cm, the sitting height is 82.9 cm and 77.4 cm, and the body weight is 57.1 kg and 52.3 kg for male and female subjects, respectively. The index of relative sitting height (RSH) was 0.51 on average for both male and female subjects. Significant differences are found in most of the anthropometric dimensions between gender and regional data groups as well. Compared with groups of people from several other countries, the anthropometric dimensions of Indonesian people are quite similar to Indian people, but are relatively smaller than Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, British, and American people. An attempt was conducted to illustrate the use of this anthropometric database and ergonomic considerations in refining the design of traditional tools and equipment commonly in use for rice farming operations.