Abstract
Push and pull activities characterize a significant part of manual material handling tasks in industry. Epidemiological studies show that pushing and pulling activities are associated with shoulder and low back pain. The International Standard 11228-2 describes the approach for risk assessment of push/pull activities, providing the maximum acceptable initial and sustained forces for pushing and pulling. The Standard defines maximum acceptable forces, requiring not to push/pull faster than a prescribed speed limit (0.1 m/s for initial force and 0.3 m/s for sustained force). Previous studies and current practice show that workers push carts faster.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships between speed variation and push forces for pushing tasks in industry. An industrial cart was pushed at different speed values. Maximum initial and sustained push forces were measured. Results show that increasing speed was highly correlated to increasing push forces. The findings have practical value for researchers, occupational physicians and ergonomics practitioners.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Michie, S.: Causes and management of stress at work. Occup. Environ. Med. 59, 67–72 (2002)
HSE: Human factors/ergonomics – Introduction to human factors. http://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/introduction.htm
Seo, N.J., Armstrong, T.J., Young, J.G.: Effects of handle orientation, gloves, handle friction and elbow posture on maximum horizontal pull and push forces. Ergonomics 53, 92–101 (2010)
Garg, A., Moore, J.S., Kapellusch, J.M.: The revised strain index: an improved upper extremity exposure assessment model. Ergonomics 60, 912–922 (2016)
Laursen, B., Schibye, B.: The effect of different surfaces on biomechanical loading of shoulder and lumbar spine during pushing and pulling of two-wheeled containers. Appl. Ergon. 33, 167–174 (2002)
Garg, A., Waters, T., Kapellusch, J., Karwowski, W.: Psychophysical basis for maximum pushing and pulling forces: A review and recommendations. Int. J. Ind. Ergon. 44, 281–291 (2014)
Ciriello, V.M., McGorry, R.W., Martin, S.E., Bezverkh Ny, I.B.: Maximum acceptable forces of dynamic pushing: comparison of two techniques. Ergonomics 42, 32–39 (1999)
Argubi-Wollesen, A., Wollesen, B., Leitner, M., Mattes, K.: Human body mechanics of pushing and pulling: analyzing the factors of task-related strain on the musculoskeletal system. Saf. Health Work 8, 11–18 (2017)
Kelsey, J.L.: An epidemiological study of the relationship between occupations and acute herniated lumbar intervertebral discs. Int. J. Epidemiol. 4, 197–205 (1975)
Frymoyer, J.W., Pope, M.H., Clements, J.H., Wilder, D.G., MacPherson, B., Ashikaga, T.: Risk factors in low-back pain. an epidemiological survey. J. Bone Joint Surg. Am. 65, 213–218 (1983)
Damkot, D.K., Pope, M.H., Lord, J., Frymoyer, J.W.: The relationship between work history, work environment and low-back pain in men. Spine (Phila. Pa. 1976) 9, 395–399 (1984)
Hoozemans, M.J., van der Beek, A.J., Frings-Dresen, M.H., van Dijk, F.J., van der Woude, L.H.: Pushing and pulling in relation to musculoskeletal disorders: a review of risk factors. Ergonomics 41, 757–781 (1998)
Hoozemans, M.J.M., Van der Beek, A.J., Frings-Dresen, M.H.W., Van der Woude, L.H.V., Van Dijk, F.J.H.: Pushing and pulling in association with low back and shoulder complaints. Occup. Environ. Med. 59, 696–702 (2002)
Plouvier, S., Renahy, E., Chastang, J.F., Bonenfant, S., Leclerc, A.: Biomechanical strains and low back disorders: quantifying the effects of the number of years of exposure on various types of pain. Occup. Environ. Med. 65, 268–274 (2008)
Lee, J., Nussbaum, M.A., Kyung, G.: Effects of work experience on work methods during dynamic pushing and pulling. Int. J. Ind. Ergon. 44, 647–653 (2014)
Marras, W.S., Knapik, G.G., Ferguson, S.: Loading along the lumbar spine as influence by speed, control, load magnitude, and handle height during pushing. Clin. Biomech. 24, 155–163 (2009)
Snook, S.H., Ciriello, V.M.: The design of manual handling tasks: revised tables of maximum acceptable weights and forces. Ergonomics 34, 1197–1213 (1991)
11228-2, I.S.O.: System of standards for labor safety. Ergonomics. Manual handling. Part 2. Pushing and pulling (2007)
Lee, K.S., Chaffin, D.B., PARKS, C.: A study of slip potential during cart pushing and pulling. IIE Trans. 24, 139–146 (1992)
Resnick, M.L., Chaffin, D.B.: An ergonomic evaluation of handle height and load in maximal and submaximal cart pushing. Appl. Ergon. 26, 173–178 (1995)
Jung, M.-C., Haight, J.M., Freivalds, A.: Pushing and pulling carts and two-wheeled hand trucks. Int. J. Ind. Ergon. 35, 79–89 (2005)
Ciriello, V.M., Dempsey, P.G., Maikala, R.V., O’Brien, N.V.: Revisited: Comparison of two techniques to establish maximum acceptable forces of dynamic pushing for male industrial workers. Int. J. Ind. Ergon. 37, 877–882 (2007)
Nimbarte, A.D., Sun, Y., Jaridi, M., Hsiao, H.: Biomechanical loading of the shoulder complex and lumbosacral joints during dynamic cart pushing task. Appl. Ergon. 44, 841–849 (2013)
Wiggermann, N.: Effect of a powered drive on pushing and pulling forces when transporting bariatric hospital beds. Appl. Ergon. 58, 59–65 (2017)
Acknowledgments
The data used in this study were recorded in 2010 in Boretto (RE), Italy. The Italian company M2 & Associati Srl (www.m2servizi.it) provided the dynamometer for force measurements and actively participated in the study. Martinelli M., MD, provided expertise that assisted the research. The authors are grateful for this support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this paper
Cite this paper
Botti, L., Mora, C., Zecchi, G., Baruffaldi, G. (2019). The Effect of Speed Variation on Initial and Sustained Forces During Pushing and Pulling Activities: A Preliminary Study. In: Karwowski, W., Trzcielinski, S., Mrugalska, B., Di Nicolantonio, M., Rossi, E. (eds) Advances in Manufacturing, Production Management and Process Control. AHFE 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 793. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94196-7_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94196-7_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-94195-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-94196-7
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)