Title: Some investigations on low back pain amongst workers involved in lifting tasks

Authors: Sanjay Mohan Sharma; Sehijpal Singh; Balbir Singh; Mohd Javaid; Mohammad Asjad

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra-182320, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana-141006, Punjab, India ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India

Abstract: Manual lifting still is at large in various countries and it has been observed that majority of the workers involved in manual lifting tasks suffer from low back pain. This paper analyses such cases by using NIOSH lifting equation. The lifting index is calculated based upon the data gathered on the site. It was revealed from data that the workers were exposed to low back pains. In order to assure the safety of workers, the measurements were again done after revising their working style and the workplace layouts. The lifting loads considered for the study were 5 Kg, 10 Kg, 15 Kg and 20 Kg. The study was carried out on 50 subjects in different warehouses in Jammu (J&K, India), where lifting was done manually without the aid of any handling equipment. Finally, based upon the results of NIOSH lifting equation, certain recommendations were made to safeguard the workers.

Keywords: recommended weight limit; RWL; lifting index; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; NIOSH; low back pain; lifting tasks; manual lifting; lifting loads; warehouse safety; warehouses; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2016.079979

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2016 Vol.9 No.6, pp.659 - 683

Received: 14 Apr 2015
Accepted: 25 Jul 2015
Published online: 25 Oct 2016 *

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