• IE interfaces
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2004

Various characteristics of the object being lifted are known to affect the biomechanical, physiological, and psychophysical stresses. The object characteristics to be considered in the design process of lifting tasks are weight, shape, stiffness, and availability of handles and similar coupling devices. In this study, a prototype Polypropylene laminated bag with carrying handles was designed to decrease the physical stress of people who handle these bags. Physiological and psychophysical approaches as well as subjective ratings were applied to evaluate the effects of handles provided on the designed PP laminated bag. Statistical analysis showed that the VO2, heart rate, blood pressure, and Borg-RPE score for PP laminated fertilizer bag with carrying handles were significantly lower than those bags without handles. Moreover, Maximum Acceptable Lifting Endurance Time(MALET) measure, newly developed in this study, for bags with handles was significantly higher than those for bags without handles. It is thus recommended that the various types of bags and boxes be equipped with handles to reduce the musculoskeletal, physiological, psychophysical, and subjective perceived stresses.