Evaluation of the Farmers' Workload and Thermal Environments during Chili Harvest in the Open Field

Physiological and subjective responses of the farmers and thermal environment during chili harvest in the open field were investigated to evaluate the thermal environments and farmers's workload. Eight career female farmers in their sixties participated as subjects both in morning work(MW, AM 9:00~10:30) and in afternoon work(AW, PM 15:00~16:30) with each lasting about 90 minutes. The results were as follows. 1) Air temperature, air humidity, globe temperature and WBGT of MW were mean $25.54^{\circ}C$, 81.82%RH, $37.72^{\circ}C$, $26.27^{\circ}C$ and AW were mean $30.63^{\circ}C$ 82.50%RH, $40.11^{\circ}C$, $30.02^{\circ}C$, respectively. By the WBGT, we evaluated that the thermal environment in the afternoon in the open field gave a thermal burden to farmers. 2) Mean skin temperature of AW($34.8{\pm}0.8^{\circ}C$) was higher than MW($33.5{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$)(p<0.05). Clothing microclimate temperature on the chest of each work time were $31.3^{\circ}C$(MW) and $32.7^{\circ}C$(AW). Clothing microclimate humidity on the chest of each work time were over 80%RH. Heart rate were 88.5bpm(MW) and 91.7bpm(AW) respectively. 3) Farmers working in the afternoon felt uncomfortable after 45~60 min. of work and in the morning they felt uncomfortable after 90 min. of work. We evaluated that the harvesting of chilies in the open field was 'moderate work' by the physiological responses but the level of thermal burden increased over time especially in the afternoon work. It is suggested that farm workers should drink fluids between work to stay in homeostasis by sweating and to take frequent rests. Active clothing ventilation and wearing functional garments would help farm workers excrete sweat effectively.

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