Postural Stability of Stand-Up Forklift Operators in Response to Normal Braking Procedures

Engineering/Technology Management ◽

10.1115/imece2005-81013 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Chimba Mkandawire ◽

Mark A. Nicosia ◽

Tara L. A. Moor ◽

Catherine F. Corrigan

Keyword(s):

Americans With Disabilities Act ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Peak Acceleration ◽

Moving Platforms ◽

Poor Predictor

Balance retention and postural stability of forklift operators have not been well investigated in the literature. Our testing shows that forklift operators can maintain postural stability during routine braking procedures while using standup lift trucks, and that peak acceleration levels generated by lift trucks are below the peak acceleration levels mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act for moving platforms. Our review of studies involving balance retention has shown that acceleration levels experienced by subjects who maintained postural stability were greater than the peak accelerations during forklift braking operation. In addition, acceleration levels alone are a poor predictor of a subject’s ability to maintain postural stability.

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Energy cost associated with moving platforms

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5439 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5439 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carolyn A. Duncan ◽

Scott N. MacKinnon ◽

Jacques F. Marais ◽

Fabien A. Basset

Keyword(s):

Energy Cost ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Commercial Fishing ◽

Moving Platforms ◽

Metabolic Costs ◽

Significant Performance ◽

Operator Fatigue ◽

Exact Effect ◽

Experienced Personnel ◽

Platform Motions

BackgroundPrevious research suggests motion induced fatigue contributes to significant performance degradation and is likely related to a higher incidence of accidents and injuries. However, the exact effect of continuous multidirectional platform perturbations on energy cost (EC) with experienced personnel on boats and other seafaring vessels remains unknown.ObjectiveThe objective of this experiment was to measure the metabolic ECs associated with maintaining postural stability in a motion-rich environment.MethodsTwenty volunteer participants, who were free of any musculoskeletal or balance disorders, performed three tasks while immersed in a moving environment that varied motion profiles similar to those experienced by workers on a mid-size commercial fishing vessel (static platform (baseline), low and high motions (HMs)). Cardiorespiratory parameters were collected using an indirect calorimetric system that continuously measured breath-by-breath samples. Heart rate was recoded using a wireless heart monitor.ResultsResults indicate a systematic increase in metabolic costs associated with increased platform motions. The increases were most pronounced during the standing and lifting activities and were 50% greater during the HM condition when compared to no motion. Increased heart rates were also observed.DiscussionPlatform motions have a significant impact on metabolic costs that are both task and magnitude of motion dependent. Practitioners must take into consideration the influence of motion-rich environments upon the systematic accumulation of operator fatigue.

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