Prediction of metabolic costs, psychological feeling and lifting workload limits for Chinese population

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Zhijun Zhang,

Affiliations: School of Psychological and Behavior Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China

Note: [] School of Psychological and Behavior Science, Xixi Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310028, P.R. China. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: This study examined the effects of lifting technique, lifting frequency and lifting weight on oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion of the Chinese population. The physiological and psychological responses increased significantly with repetitive lifting workload. The workload was calculated from several lifting task characteristics including lifting frequency, lifting weight and lifting distance. The regressive formulas were produced statistically. The metabolic costs and psychological feeling could be reliably predicted from repetitive lifting workload and lifting technique. The workload limits of specific lifting tasks could be estimated by comparing predicted metabolic costs and psychological feelings with relevant available physiological and psychological tolerances of Chinese population. The study further revealed that lifting technique significantly affected lifting capacities.

Keywords: metabolic cost, psychological feeling, workload limit, repetitive lifting workload, lifting technique

Journal: Occupational Ergonomics, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 43-51, 1999/2000