The design of manual handling tasks.

Abstract

Abstract Manual materials handling is the principal source of compensatable work injuries in the United States, and 79% of the manual handling injuries affect the lower back. The prevention of low back injuries in industry has traditionally been attemped by (1) careful selection of workers, (2) good training procedures in safe lifting, and (3) designing the job to fit the worker. This paper discusses the latter approach by describing seven studies of lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying and walking. Among the variables investigated were the height, distance and frequency of the task; the size and weight of the object; the differences in worker sex. age, and physical physique; and the effects of heat stress. The psychophysical methodology used in six of the studies is discussed, and the results are used to develop a series of tables for evaluating the design ofmanual handling tasks. The tables present the maximum weights that are acceptable to 10, 25, 50, 75 and 90% of the working population. The ...