Determination of the anthropometry of processors for designing ergonomically improved dewatered cassava mash (DCM) sieving machine

Traditional dewatered cassava mash sieving device developed by local craftsmen in Nigeria exposes users to work-related musculoskeletal discomfort (WMSD), among other drawbacks such as low throughput capacity, high energy, and time input. This research seeks to develop an improved manual dewatered cassava mash (DCM) machine which alleviates this exposure as well as enhance productivity. Anthropometric parameters of 150 cassava processors from three senatorial districts of Rivers state were collected and analyzed. From the data of body parts of processors measured, an improved manual DCM machine was developed. The result of the measurement analyzed using t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the male and female parameters measured within a zone and between the three zones investigated. The measured parameters yielded the following mean values for the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile of the generated data: elbow height sitting (D) of 15.00, 19.23 and 22.67; lower leg length (E) of 38.80, 44.03 and 48.87, elbow to fingertip (F) of 38.27, 48.23 and 52.43; thigh clearance (H) of 9.83, 13.17 and 18.00; hip breadth (J) of 28.33, 32.83 and 42, respectively in centimeters for the three zones. Also, the ergonomic dimensions for a more comfortable posture for the machine were recommended: 72cm for machine height, 53 cm for machine width, 68cm for machine length, and a sitting range of 36-50 cm.