Ergonomic and Anthropometric Preliminary Study to Determine Whether Moving a Loaded Cart Can Cause Musculoskeletal Disorders

Abstract

A specialized risk estimation and evaluation was carried out to determine if moving a loaded cart could cause musculoskeletal disorders. The implemented methodology for determining the risk consisted of: (a) anthropometric study of 380 male workers for establishing they age and stature. (b) Measuring sustained push force. (c) Determination of synthetic distributions of strength at selected relative handle height. (d) Estimation of basic force limits and compressive strength limits for the target population. The workers’ characteristics resulted from the anthropometric study were age < 20 9.5%, 20 < age < 50 86.81% and age > 50 3.69%. The synthetic distribution of strength for pushing activities, considered the following assumptions: absolute handle height of 1.1 m, and the fifteenth percentile as basic force limits. The result of 259 N is smaller 310 N precalculated force limits in tables; the risk was determined as not acceptable. Therefore, it is necessary consider the demographic characteristics of the population when a risk is evaluated.