Citation

Stalhammar HR, Troup JDG, Leskinen TPJ. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 1989; 3(3): 229-234.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Rating of acceptable load (RAL) was used to determine the load-handling capacity of women (n = 54) and men (n = 49) and the effects of handles on the acceptable weight. The RAL test was administered using 30 x 30 x 30 cm boxes, one without handles and the other with handles 20 cm above the base. Subjects were asked to fill a box with the weight that they considered would be acceptable for lowering from table (72 cm) to floor and again lifting back to the table at 5-min intervals over an 8-hour working day. The tests were done in their actual place of work.Subjects selected heavier acceptable loads for the box with handles. The overall means for women and men for the box with handles were 8.8 kg for women and 19.1 kg for men and for the box without handles 7.5 kg and 14.9 kg, respectively. The greater difference of the selected weight of two the boxes for men than for women suggests that the heavier the box more important it is to have it equipped with handles.