Effects of carrying handles, postures, materials and distances on carrying capability

This study recruited 14 industrial workers to examine the effects of carrying handles, postures, materials and distances on maximum acceptable weights of carrying (MAWC), and resulting heart rate and body rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for a 20 min intensive carrying task. This study showed that MAWC of carrying with bar handles, carrying with hands-and-body posture, solid materials and 4 m distance were significantly higher than that of carrying with groove handles, carrying with hands posture, liquid materials and 8 m distance, respectively. The resulting heart rates while carrying MAWCs of groove handles, hands-and-body carrying posture, solid materials and 4 m distance were lower than the resulting heart rates while carrying MAWCs of bar handles, hands carrying posture, liquid materials and 8 m distance, respectively. Most pair levels of independent variables resulted in similar body's RPEs except for the pair levels of carrying distance.