Manual Materials Handling in Unusual Postures: Carrying of Loads

Abstract

Carrying capacity of individuals was established for four height constrained postures: unconstrained, upright walking, walking in a semi-stooped posture (at 80% of standing height), walking in a full-stooped posture (at 60% of standing height), and crawling (at 40% of standing height). A dynamic strength test, the isoinertial elbow height lift was used to develop prediction models for each of the carrying activities. Carrying capacity decreased as ceiling height decreased. On the average, females handled slightly over 50% of what the males handled under the given task conditions.