The psychophysical lifting capacities of Chinese subjects

Abstract

The psychophysical lifting capacity (MAWL) of twelve subjects was determined in this study. The subjects were all young Chinese males who performed lifting tasks in three lifting ranges (floor to knuckle, floor to shoulder, and knuckle to shoulder) and four lifting frequencies (one-time maximum, 1 lift/min, 4 lifts/min, and 6 lifts/min). The oxygen uptake (1/min) and heart rate (beats/min) were recorded while subjects were lifting. Upon completion of each lifting task, the subjects were required to rate their perceived exertion levels. The statistical analyses results indicated the following. Chinese subjects have smaller body size and MAWLs compared with past studies using the US population. The MAWLs decreased with an increase in lifting frequencies. The decrements of MAWL due to lifting frequencies were in agreement with the results of past studies. However, there were larger decreases due to lifting ranges. The MAWLs of the floor to knuckle height lift were the largest, followed by the MAWLs of the floor to shoulder height lift, and the MAWLs of the knuckle to shoulder height lift. The measured physiological responses were considered similar to those obtained in past studies. Subjects' perceived stress levels increased with the lifting frequency and the upper extremities received the most stress for the total range of lifting tasks. The comparisons of the Chinese MAWLs with the NIOSH lifting guidelines for limits (AL and MPL) indicated that the vertical discounting factor in the guidelines should be modified before the NIOSH limits can be applied to non-Western populations.

Determination of maximum acceptable weight of lift by adult Indian female workers

“…Zhu and Zhang (1990) and Wu (1997) reported that MAWL for Chinese subjects were less than that observed for the Western population. Evans (1990) and Lee et al (1995) have mentioned that the NIOSH limit might not be applicable for non-Western population. However, no study is reported on the applicability of this NIOSH equation on the Indian Women workers till date.…”

“…In 1991, a revised lifting equation was developed with more number of lifting parameters (Waters et al, 1993). In Europe and North America, this NIOSH equation is well established, but the applicability of NIOSH equation across different countries is under question (Zhu and Zhang, 1990;Evans, 1990;Lee et al, 1995;Wu, 1997). In fact, manual handling problem is more severe in developing and underdeveloped countries.…”

Aerobic capacity of young Mexican American adults

“…VO 2max was estimated at 3.573 l/min (SD=0.675). Lee et al (1995) reported that the VO 2max of 12 Chinese male college students (mean age=21.2, SD=1.88) was (2000), in a study of 11 healthy college males (average age 25.1; SD=3) from Canada, found that the maximal oxygen uptake was 4.46 l/min (SD=0.69), and the body weight adjusted maximal oxygen uptake was 56.9 ml/kg/min (SD=7.1). Lloyd and Cooke (2000), in their study with 4 young male participants from the United Kingdom (average age 26.5 years, SD=4.5), report a weight adjusted VO 2max of 53.7 ml/kg/ min (SD=10).…”

Manual lifting load limit equation for adult Indian women workers based on physiological criteria

“…According to the 1991 NIOSH committee the Recommended Weight Limit is 23 kg, whereas in 1988, the International Labour Organization (ILO) reported the safe load limit for Manual Load Lifting (MLL) for females in most of the countries to be around 15 kg (Table 1) (ILO 1988). Evans (1990) and Lee et al (1995) have mentioned that the NIOSH (1991) limit might not be applicable for non-Western populations. In addition to these facts, the applicability of this NIOSH (1991) lifting equation to Indian women workers is limited due to the following reasons.…”