Container Characteristics and Maximum Acceptable Weight of Lift1

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effects of handles, shape of the container, and dimensions of the container on maximum acceptable weight of lift using a psychophysical methodology. Ten male college students were required to lift six different boxes with handles, six without handles, and three different mailbags from the floor to a bench height (76 cm), using a free-style lifting technique. The six boxes varied in length and width, and the three mailbags varied in diameter and length. Statistical analysis showed that the maximum acceptable weights for mailbags and boxes without handles were lower than those for boxes with handles. The maximum acceptable weight significantly increased with an increase in dimensions of the mailbag. Among all the container characteristics studied, handles were found to have the most profound effect on maximum acceptable weight. It is concluded that the recommendations for maximum acceptable weight of the load based on boxes with handles need to be adjusted when applied to boxes without handles or to some other types of containers.