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Brick handling: a case study.
1Ergonomics Unit, School of Human Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Applied Ergonomics
|September 1, 1982
Summary
Slight changes in brick size increased manual handling workload. Modified grip patterns led to greater physical exertion and fatigue during brick loading and unloading tasks.
Area of Science:
- Ergonomics
- Occupational Health
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Manual handling of bricks is a common construction task.
- Brick dimensions can influence handling ergonomics and worker fatigue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of altered brick dimensions on perceived workload and physiological responses during manual handling.
- To identify changes in grip patterns and their effect on physical strain.
Main Methods:
- A laboratory study was conducted involving manual loading and unloading of bricks with changed dimensions.
- Measurements included grip patterns, upper body movement, chest-muscle activity, and heart rate.
- Subjective fatigue ratings were collected from participants.
Main Results:
- A small change in brick dimensions necessitated altered grip patterns for maintaining unloading rate.
- These altered grips led to increased upper body movement and chest-muscle activity.
- Higher heart rates and increased subjective fatigue ratings were observed.
Conclusions:
- Brick dimension variations significantly impact manual handling ergonomics.
- Altered grip strategies increase physiological load and worker fatigue.
- Optimizing brick dimensions is crucial for reducing occupational strain in construction.