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Manual Lifting

The document discusses two experiments that analyzed manual lifting operations using the NIOSH lifting equation to determine recommended weight limits (RWL). For the first experiment, the origin lift was found to have a lifting index (LI) below 3 and was safe, while the destination lift had an LI above 3 and was dangerous. For the second experiment, both the origin and destination lifts were found to have LIs above 3 and were dangerous. The document concludes by providing guidelines for recommended load weights for different lifting scenarios, noting that individual capability can vary and additional risk factors like bending should be considered.

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Ksdroy
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46 views

Manual Lifting

The document discusses two experiments that analyzed manual lifting operations using the NIOSH lifting equation to determine recommended weight limits (RWL). For the first experiment, the origin lift was found to have a lifting index (LI) below 3 and was safe, while the destination lift had an LI above 3 and was dangerous. For the second experiment, both the origin and destination lifts were found to have LIs above 3 and were dangerous. The document concludes by providing guidelines for recommended load weights for different lifting scenarios, noting that individual capability can vary and additional risk factors like bending should be considered.

Uploaded by

Ksdroy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name of the Experiment:

Study of manual lifting operation and determination of the recommended weight limit using
NOISH lifting equation.

Objective:

The objective of this experiment is to study of manual lifting operation and determination of the
recommended weight limit by using NOISH lifting equation.

Recommended Weight Limit (RWL):

Recommended Weight Limit is the principal product of the revised NIOSH lifting equation.

The Recommended Weight Limit is the weight of the load that nearly all healthy workers could
perform in a specific set of task conditions over a substantial period of time (e.g. up to 8 hours)
without an increased risk of developing lifting-related low back pain.

The RWL is defined by the following equation:

RWL = LC x HM x VM x DM x AM x FM x CM

Where:

LC Load Constant = 23 kg. HM Horizontal Multiplier VM Vertical Multiplier DM Distance


Multiplier AM Asymmetric Multiplier FM Frequency Multiplier CM Coupling Multiplier

The term multipliers refer to the reduction coefficients that serve to decrease the load constant.

Lifting Index (LI):

The Lifting Index (LI) is a term that provides a relative estimate of the level of physical stress
associated with a particular manual lifting task.

The Lifting Index is defined by the following equation:

LI = Load Weight (L)/ Recommended Weight Limit (RWL)

Load Weight (L) = weight of the object lifted.

It is believed that nearly all workers will be at an increased risk of a work-related injury when
performing highly stressful lifting tasks (i.e. lifting tasks that would exceed a LI of 3.0).

Therefore, the goal should be to design all lifting jobs to achieve a LI of 3.0 or less.
Problem 1:

Step 1: Measures and Record Task Variable.

Horizontal Total Vertical Lift

Body to Hand Distance =Dest.- Origin

= 64cm+51cm =92cm-23cm

=115cm =69cm

Object Hand Location Vert. Angle Freq Times Object


Weight Origin Dest. Dist Origin Dest. Lifts\min HRS coupling
Avg Max H V H V D A A F C
14Kg 14Kg 64 92 115 23 69 0 45 1 4 .95

Step 2: Determine Multipliers and Compute RWL

Origin of lift:

Load constant, LC=23 kg


Horizontal Multiplier, HM= 25/H = 0.391
Vertical Multiplier, VM= 1-(.003|v-75|) = 0.949
Distance Multiplier, DM= .82 + (4.5/d) = 0.885
Asymmetric Multiplier, AM= 1-.0032a= 1
Frequency Multiplier, FM= 0.81 (v>75 and 1 lift/min)
Coupling Multiplier, CM= 0.95
Recommended Weight Limit, RWL= LC*HM*VM*DM*AM*FM*CM= 5.812

Destination of lift:

Load Constant, LC=23 Kg


Horizontal Multiplier, HM= 25/H = 0.2174
Vertical Multiplier, VM= 1-(.003|v-75|) = 0.844
Distance Multiplier, DM= .82 + (4.5/D) = 0.885
Asymmetric Multiplier, AM= 1-.0032A= 0.856
Frequency Multiplier, FM= 0.81 (V<75 and 1 lift/min)
Coupling Multiplier, CM= 0.95
Recommended Weight Limit, RWL= LC*HM*VM*DM*AM*FM*CM= 2.538
Step 3: Compute the Lifting Index

Origin Lifting Index, LI= L/RWL= 2.4088 (L= load weight)


Destination Lifting index, LI= L/RWL= 5.691 (L= load weight)

Conclusion:
 Origin: The start of the lift is acceptable and safe since LI <3.
 Destination: The end of the lift is dangerous since LI>3. This could be the point where serious
low back injury will occur.

Problem 2:

Step 1: Measures and Record Task Variable

Horizontal Total Vertical Lift

Body to Hand Distance =Dest.- Origin

= 50cm+35cm =100cm-30cm

=85 =70cm

Object Hand Location Vert. Angle Freq Times Object


Weight Origin Dest Dist Origin Dest Lifts\min HRS coupling
Avg Max H V H V D A A F C
19Kg 19Kg 53 102 88 36 66 0 30 3 4 .95

Step 2: Determine Multipliers and Compute RWL.

Origin of Lift:

Load Constant, LC=23 Kg


Horizontal Multiplier, HM= 25/H = 0.4717
Vertical Multiplier, VM= 1-(.003|V-75|) = 0.919
Distance Multiplier, DM= .82 + (4.5/D) = 0.8882
Asymmetric Multiplier, AM= 1-.0032A=1
Frequency Multiplier, FM= 0.55 (V>75 And 3 Lift/Min)
Coupling Multiplier, CM= 0.90
Recommended Weight Limit, RWL= LC*HM*VM*DM*AM*FM*CM= 4.3835
Destination of lift:

Load constant, LC=23 kg


Horizontal multiplier, HM= 25/H = 0.2841
Vertical multiplier, VM= 1-(.003|V-75|) = 0.883
Distance multiplier, DM= .82 + (4.5/D) = 0.8882
Asymmetric multiplier, AM= 1-.0032A= 0.904
Frequency multiplier, FM= 0.55 (V<75 and 3 lift/min)
Coupling multiplier, CM= 0.90
Recommended weight limit, RWL= LC*HM*VM*DM*AM*FM*CM= 2.2932

Step 3: Compute the Lifting Index

Origin Lifting Index, LI= L/RWL= 4.3344 (L= load weight)


Destination Lifting index, LI= L/RWL= 8.2854 (L= load weight)

Conclusion:
 Origin: The start of the lift is dangerous since LI>3
 Destination: The end of the lift is dangerous since LI>3. The stress level is LI: 8.2854, the larger
of the values. This could be point where serious low back injury will occur. The task must be
changed at the destination, or increased job screening, medical monitoring, training must be
introduced.

Recommended loads for Lifting:

The regulations for loads of lifting cannot be specify safe weights because capability varies with
each individual. Figure 1 provides a guide to the reduction in capability when lifting loads to
different heights and distances from the body. It has been assumed that a 25 kg load will be within
the capability when a simple straight lift to waist height is involved. To lower or carry loads over
25kg no single person should be required to lift. This limit would only apply when the load is
within the individual’s capabilities and when no other risk factors are present e.g. bending
Figure 1: Recommended loads for Lifting.

Remember that your ability to lift may be increased if you have been appropriately trained in lifting
techniques, or, it may be considerably reduced in ill health or if the working environment
conditions are in any way adverse e.g. too hot/cold, slippery/uneven floors, difficult to grab the
load.
The risk of injury increases as the weight of the load increases. However, the risk comes not just
from the weight of the object being handled but also the way it is handled e.g. twisting, reaching,
repeating task frequently.

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