Citation

Kumar S. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 1989; 4(1): 29-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The task of passenger transfer from the ground to the airplane using a stair-chair is frequently performed at smaller airports and/or by smaller air carriers, resulting in back injuries to flight attendants. This task was simulated and analyzed as a case study, using Nordskog passenger boarding stairs (Model 3005) and the built-in passenger boarding stairs of Boeing 727. The passenger was transferred on an Everest and Jennings chair (Model 46-E). The entire task was divided into its task elements for both passenger boarding stairs. The individual task elements were subjected to biomechanical analysis. The lumbosacral compressive load was found to exceed the action limit for every task element. The percent strength capability ranged between 11% to 71%. A low cost option modification of hardware and task execution is suggested. A simulated task analysis of the modified task revealed significantly reduced compression (below the action limit over the entire task). The percent strength capability increased significantly (60%-100%).