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<p>Cashew Kernel Separation (CKS) is an essential task in the cashew industry, where women workers manually separate the kernels from cashew shells. Workers usually perform this task by using a traditional hand tool. While operating this traditional hand tool, workers are forced to adopt repetitive and awkward hand-wrist posture, which leads to Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders (UEMSDs) among the workers. Thus, the present study attempted to develop an ergonomic Cashew Kernel Separating Hand Tool (CKSHT) to provide a comfortable hand-wrist posture of the CKS workers to avoid pain during repetitive use. A participatory design approach was adopted to develop an ergonomic CKSHT that allows comfortable hand/wrist posture and ease of operation. The prototype of the new CKSHT was developed and compared with the traditional hand tool by objective and subjective assessment of usability. Goniometric study of hand/wrist posture provided objective measures. Participants’ perceived hand discomfort, usability, and design satisfaction were assessed using a questionnaire. The ergonomic evaluation of the new CKSHT revealed a substantial improvement in hand/ wrist posture and a significant reduction in hand/ wrist discomfort with the new CKSHT. Workers perceived that the new CKSHT made their work easier and less painful. The present study highlighted the benefits of ergonomic design intervention for improving the safety and health of CKS workers in emerging small-scale cashew industries in India, by providing a practical solution to a pressing issue.</p>

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Ergonomic Hand Tool Design to Mitigate Upper Extremity Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Women Cashew Kernel Separating Workers: A Pilot Study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月8日

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  • Krishna Chaitanya Mallampalli,
  • Sougata Karmakar

摘要

Cashew Kernel Separation (CKS) is an essential task in the cashew industry, where women workers manually separate the kernels from cashew shells. Workers usually perform this task by using a traditional hand tool. While operating this traditional hand tool, workers are forced to adopt repetitive and awkward hand-wrist posture, which leads to Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders (UEMSDs) among the workers. Thus, the present study attempted to develop an ergonomic Cashew Kernel Separating Hand Tool (CKSHT) to provide a comfortable hand-wrist posture of the CKS workers to avoid pain during repetitive use. A participatory design approach was adopted to develop an ergonomic CKSHT that allows comfortable hand/wrist posture and ease of operation. The prototype of the new CKSHT was developed and compared with the traditional hand tool by objective and subjective assessment of usability. Goniometric study of hand/wrist posture provided objective measures. Participants’ perceived hand discomfort, usability, and design satisfaction were assessed using a questionnaire. The ergonomic evaluation of the new CKSHT revealed a substantial improvement in hand/ wrist posture and a significant reduction in hand/ wrist discomfort with the new CKSHT. Workers perceived that the new CKSHT made their work easier and less painful. The present study highlighted the benefits of ergonomic design intervention for improving the safety and health of CKS workers in emerging small-scale cashew industries in India, by providing a practical solution to a pressing issue.