Effectiveness of a Vacuum Lifting System in Reducing Spinal Load During Airline Baggage Handling

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dufour JS ; Lu M-L ; Marras WS ; Weston EB
• Description:
  Information on spinal loading for using lift assist systems for airport baggage handling is lacking. We conducted a laboratory study to evaluate a vacuum lift system for reducing lumbar spinal loads during baggage loading/ unloading tasks. Ten subjects performed the tasks using the industry average baggage weight of 14.5 kg on a typical two-shelved baggage cart with or without using the lift system (i.e. lifting technique). Repeated measures analysis of variance (2 tasks × 2 shelf heights x 2 techniques) was used. Spinal loads were estimated by an electromyography-driven biomechanical model. On average, the vacuum lift system reduced spinal compressive forces on the lumbar spine by 39% and below the 3400 N damage threshold. The system also resulted in a 25% reduction in the anterior-posterior shear force at the L5/S1 inferior endplate level. This study provides evidence for the potential to reduce spinal loads when using a vacuum lift system. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aircraft Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Airport Personnel Airports Author Keywords: Airport Baggage Lifting Biomechanical Model Biomechanical Modeling Biomechanics Electromyography Lifting Materials Handling Vacuum Lift
• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  247-252
• Volume:
  70
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051233
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2018 Jul; 70:247-252
• Contact Point Address:
  Ming-Lun Lu, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Taft Laboratories, 1150 Tusculum Ave., MS C-24, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  mlu@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c5c8a5c32e9dda853ce999a04536ed117fe6224619a56c4ffadd41662c09c197cb3676e49e261b07b3065c202344666a51825607bbd9cf315007dc458a0ae9fb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211306/cdc_211306_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 383.12 KB ]