Modeling of Manual Handling in Unusual Postures

Abstract

Subjects performed a series of psychophysical lifting tasks simulating USAF aircrew maintenance activities. The tasks involved lifting while in unusual postures: lying prone, supine, sideways, and standing. Maximum acceptable weights on the tasks were then related to performance on a series of isoinertial and isometric strength tests. High correlations were obtained between lifting task and strength test performance. Prediction models developed indicated that an isoinertial 1.8 m lift and isometric one hand pull were the best predictors of task performance. The prediction models can be used in the establishment of design weights for aircrew maintenance tasks.