Analysis of lifting and carrying tasks of a stevedore

• Main Authors: Cruz, Jan Michael, Deada, John Carlo, Mejia, Samantha
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2001
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/12055
• Institution: De La Salle University

Executive Summary. Stevedoring is a labor-intensive job. This involves loading and unloading of heavy equipment, baggage and other goods being shipped by way of cargo ships. As much as new material handling equipment has been developed to automate lifting and carrying, still, the local harbors cannot afford such equipment. Instead, local harbors hire stevedores for lifting and carrying tasks or more specifically, stripping and stuffing tasks. Stevedores lift, carry and unload as much as 60 kilos per sack. Under lifting recommendations, a person should carry only loads that are equal or below his weight. Carrying loads more than his weight will cause physical discomfort in different parts of the body such as neck, shoulders, arms, back, hips, legs and foot. The stevedores are exposed to this strenuous task. They lift can carry loads more than the allowable weight for them to carry. Because of that, they indeed experience physical discomfort particularly in their lower back as evidenced by different ergonomic assessment tools. These assessment tools justify that the stevedores carry loads more than their weight causing physical discomfort to intensify and posture to be awkward. There are several ways in which to improve the posture of the stevedores. Four alternatives were suggested and a lifting brace was proposed as the appropriate tool to minimize physical discomfort. This was validated by the same assessment tools used to determine the specific physical discomfort in the lower back. The lifting brace fall under the category or principle of a personal protective equipment where it is seen to protect the stevedore from further physical discomfort in their lower back.