Preliminary communication
ESTIMATION OF THE LOAD ACTING ON THE WORKER DURING LIFTING TASKS
Tanja Jurčević Lulić
; Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Mladen Runjak
; Visoka škola za sigurnost na radu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate the load acting on the worker during weight lifting using the ergonomic approach and the method of load assessment set out in the Regulations on Safety Requirements for the Manual Handling of Loads. One volunteer employee (height 185 cm, body mass 85 kg) was included in the study. Two lifting tasks were analyzed: lifting a box of 8 kg mass from the ground to the shelves of two different heights, and lifting a box of 25 kg mass from the ground to the work table. The ergonomic method used intraabdominal pressure as a measure of load acting on the worker. The method consists of constructing biomechanical models in the sagittal plain and calculation of the lumbar moment and intraabdominal pressure. The values of intraabdominal pressure were determined for every working posture and compared with critical value. The method of the work load assessment, according to the Regulations on Safety Requirements for the Manual Handling of Loads, relies on a point-based assessment of loads which takes into account: frequency of the working tasks, load mass, body postures, ergonomic conditions, work experience and temperature in the work environment. The ergonomic analysis showed that lifting a 25 kg load causes intraabdominal pressure which is higher than critical value. The method of the work load assessment set in the Regulations showed that increased load was acting on the worker in both working tasks, and the point value was higher when the box of 25 kg mass was lifted. In the case of the 25 kg load, it was recommended to share lifting tasks among several workers and to keep the load as close to the body as possible.
Keywords
load lifting; load acting on the worker; biomechanical model; intraabdominal pressure; implementation of the Regulations
Hrčak ID:
104718
URI
Publication date:
2.7.2013.
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