NIOSH Comments to DOL on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Request for Comments and Information on Health and Safety Standards; Manual Lifting by R. A. Lemen, January 1987

摘要

The testimony contains comments and supplemental information from NIOSH as requested by OSHA concerning the Health and Safety Standards on Manual Lifting. Specific topics discussed in the testimony include the employee screening programs, the value of strength testing, training programs in manual handling techniques, the engineering approach to controlling lifting injuries, the usefulness of handles, asymmetric lifting, maximum acceptable weight and load moment, establishment of lifting standards, ergonomic approach of redesigning the most stressful tasks, and recommendations to modify existing current work practices guidelines. Psychophysical studies for determining maximum acceptable lifts involving asymmetric loading of the spinal column and supporting physiological data for such lifts was a topic to be included in developing guidelines for nonsagittal tasks. Also included for consideration is biomechanical information and methods for improving techniques for analyzing manual materials handling jobs and the use of decision trees.