• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to find good design for summer functional farm shoes under the agricultural environment and working characteristics, which can help safe farm work and further promote the efficiency of working. Background: Most accidents at farms were overturn accidents caused by slipping or falling, and it was found that the main factors which caused the overturn accidents were inappropriate work shoes for the working conditions. These inappropriate work shoes often cause overturn accidents in the rural areas with steep paths. Method: A survey on work shoes was conducted with 174 farmers, and the outcome of this survey was used to find problems of work shoes and improvement ideas for the design of work shoes which can be used at farms. Results: Regarding the form of farm shoes, the ankle height was set at 6 inches to prevent the bending of the ankle and the inflow of foreign substances. The size and groove of the pattern of the outsole were extended to prevent catching of foreign substances. In the upper part, polyurethane and cordura were used in combination to secure air permeability, which was pointed out as the reason for the discomfort during the work wearing existing work shoes. Conclusion: Since farmers felt discomfort with the shoes which they were currently wearing, this study suggested a design of farm shoes by analyzing the important matters of the work shoes in development in order to improve such discomfort. Application: This study can help develop farm shoes that would practically ease farmers' burden of working at farm worksites and keep them safe.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.113-130
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• 2024

A questionnaire survey of farmers engaged in actual farming was conducted to investigate the farmers' actual wearing conditions and preferences for agricultural workwear to develop workwear that is suitable for improved agricultural work efficiency. We extracted basic data necessary for the development of agricultural workwear. Analysis of the photographs taken showed differences in the shoes and gloves worn depending on the type of work. The percentages of men and women were equal among the agricultural workers. The age of the agricultural workers was analyzed and the results showed a higher percentage of those over 50 years old, indicating that the age of the agricultural workers was higher than in other industries. It was found that the waist, knees, and elbows of the workers were pulled during work, and analysis showed that the symptoms resulting from clothing pulling were more severe when the wearing dimensions were larger. It was recognized that the important aspects of workwear are those related to work, such as functionality, activity, and work efficiency. In addition to workwear, the most commonly worn auxiliary equipment was gloves, and other items included hats, armbands, work shoes, boots, seat chairs, and masks. When developing rural workwear, it is necessary to consider the fit, type of work, and materials of the workwear. Future research should focus on materials that can improve the functionality of workwear and pattern development that reflects physical and movement characteristics.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.509-515
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• 2011

Objective: The study was performed to suggest factors to consider when making or selecting protective clothing to enhance farmers' health. The purpose of this study was to review and summarize the agricultural safety technology on clothing including hat, gloves, and shoes. Background: The farmers' work clothing has to meet a multitude of requirement. Risk factors in farm-work were identified by previous researches. Agricultural safety clothing needs to be introduced. Method: We reviewed previous papers regarding the agricultural workers' health, safety clothing to protect body from excessive heat and humid environment, ultraviolet(UV) protection, and hazardous body working postures. Also the UV cut effect, pesticideproof clothing, and preventable farm work related musculoskeletal disorders were discussed. Results: The agricultural safety clothing needs to be developed to provide comfort and to be resistant against heat. The UV protection function on skin and eyes has not been fully researched in safety clothing studies yet. Conclusions and Application: The farmers' work-related body posture needs to be studied in order to make and design agricultural safety clothing. The safety issues on agricultural work shoes are also needed to be included in future studies.

• Korean Journal of Rural Living Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 1996

This study has intended to suggest fundamental data to develope and choose appropriate shoes for upland farming in order to prevent health deterioration of women workers and improve work effectiveness and reduce fatigue by wearing appropriate shoes. During 1995. 4. 28 - 5. 10, Fifty women workers in hot pepper farming were observed and major shoe types, which were rubber shoes, walking shoes, slippers, and rubber boots, were selected for the study. During 1995. 10. 9 - 31, two subjects were tested by wearing those shoes in the laboratory where the temperature was 24$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity 50$\pm$5%RH. And the temperature & humidity on sole and in the shoes, the rectal temperature, skin temperature, blood pressure, pulse, lactate concentration of blood, Flickers' value and subjective sensation were measured. The results were as follows : 1. 84% of women workers mentioned that they need shoes improvement and the order of most frequent shoe types to be worn was rubber shoes, walking shoes, slippers, rubber boots. 2. The rate of women who were unsatisfied with shoes for upland farming is 38 percentages. The reason of unsatisfaction was that feet were in a sweat and alien substances were let into shoes. 3. The temperature & humidity on sole were the lowest in rubber boots during experiment(p＜0.01). 4. The relative humidity in the shoes was the highest in rubber boots by 90% and the lowest in walking shoes by 72% during rest And the humidity in slippers and walking shoes were significantly low in experiment(p＜0.001). 5. Rubber boots showed the highest rise in rectal temperature by 0.2$^{\circ}C$ showing increase of core temperature (p＜0.05). 6. The mean skin temperature during experiment was highest in rubber boots by 33.8$^{\circ}C$(p＜0.001).

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.773-783
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify foot shapes of Korean male farmers by classifying their foot types using 3D scan data and analyzing the characteristics of each type. Background: The increasing demands for anthropometric information for the design of machinery and personal protective equipment to prevent occupational injuries has necessitated an understanding of the anthropometric differences to be found among occupations. Static stooped posture and squatting posture are so common in Korean farmers that anthropometric deformation in foot especially seems to occur easily. Method: 366 Korean male farmers volunteered for this study from 16 different farming villages nationwide from 2009 to 2011. Subjects were categorized into 4 age groups from 40s to 70s. Their right feet were measured by using 3D foot scanner, the anthropometric dimensions were composed of 40 items. Results: The 8 major factors affecting the foot shapes were extracted. From these factors the foot shape of Korean male farmers was classified into 3 Foot types. Foot type 1 showed severe deformation in toe 1, type 2 had a narrow shape and type 3 had a wider width for its length. Conclusion: There were some differences in foot shape and types between farmers and the public. The most characteristic foot type in Korean male farmers was type 3. Application: The results of identifying foot shapes of Korean male farmers might provide the useful information for designing ergonomic farm work shoes.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.195-205
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• 2016

Sugar beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, causes serious economic losses worldwide in Brassicaceae crops. In 2011, this nematode was first found in highland vegetable cultivation areas in Korea, and thereafter spread to the surrounding healthy Chinese cabbage fields. However, little has been documented on the biological and ecological characteristics of the sugar beet nematode in highland vegetable cultivation areas. In this study the dispersal of the sugar beet cyst nematode was examined, focusing on spreading through soil and/or water infested with the nematode. When farmers with work boots trampled on Chinese cabbage fields for 10 minutes, the number of cysts recovered from the soil attached to the working differed depending on the research sites. Under irrigation conditions of 2, 4, and 8 liters of water per $m^2$, the amounts of soils attached on the bottom of the work boots and the number of healthy cysts in the soils increased significantly with the increase in soil moisture, although the total number of cysts, eggs, and juveniles did not increase significantly. After driving on the farm road adjacent to cabbage fields infested with the sugar beet cyst nematode, cysts were also recovered from the soil attached to the vehicle's tires, suggesting that the sugar beet cyst nematode can spread to new fields through soil carried by vehicles and by farmers. An excavator and a motor truck could deliver 41 kg and 224 g, respectively, of soil on the shovel shoes and the wheels to other locations during the Chinese cabbage harvest, suggesting that farming equipment and transportation vehicles may be vital means by which the cyst nematode spreads to non-infested fields in the highland area of Korea. Runoff water also contained cysts, whose amounts increased after water irrigation onto the ridges to simulate rainy conditions, with no significant difference in the number of cysts with increasing amounts of irrigation water. All of these results confirmed that the sugar beet cyst nematode spreads through soil attached to work boots, harvesting tools, and transportation vehicles, especially during the harvest time, and through runoff water on rainy days. These observations suggest that personal sanitization and cleaning of working tools and vehicles are one of the most important means to prevent the dispersal of the sugar beet cyst nematode in fields.