Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary Study

Background: There have been some concerns related to manual handling of large items in industry. Manual handling operations of large sheet metal may expose workers to risks related to efficiency as well as occupational safety and health. Large sheet metals are difficult to move and burdensome to lif...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Radin Zaid Radin Umar, Nadiah Ahmad, Isa Halim, Poh Yan Lee, Malek Hamid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-09-01
Series:Safety and Health at Work
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791117304365
_version_ 1797727116692815872
author Radin Zaid Radin Umar
Nadiah Ahmad
Isa Halim
Poh Yan Lee
Malek Hamid
author_facet Radin Zaid Radin Umar
Nadiah Ahmad
Isa Halim
Poh Yan Lee
Malek Hamid
author_sort Radin Zaid Radin Umar
collection DOAJ
description Background: There have been some concerns related to manual handling of large items in industry. Manual handling operations of large sheet metal may expose workers to risks related to efficiency as well as occupational safety and health. Large sheet metals are difficult to move and burdensome to lift/transfer, and handling the sharp sheet edges may result in contact stress and/or cut injuries on the workers. Methods: Through observation, interview, and immersive simulation activities, a few problems related to current handling of sheet metals were identified. A sheet metal trolley-lifter was then designed and fabricated to address these issues. A pilot study on the use of the developed trolley-lifter for handling sheet metals was conducted to compare between the new and traditional handling methods. Results: The pilot study of the trolley-lifter showed promising results in terms of improving the cycle time, manpower utilization, and working postures compared with the traditional handling method. Conclusion: The trolley-lifter offers an alternative solution to automation and a mechanized assistive device by providing a simple mechanism to assist the handling of sheet metals effectively and safely. Keywords: Design, Ergonomics, Intervention, Material handling, Sheet metal
first_indexed 2024-03-12T10:55:18Z
format Article
id doaj.art-2a0a48c4f7f54898903d0c3b0d619daa
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2093-7911
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T10:55:18Z
publishDate 2019-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Safety and Health at Work
spelling doaj.art-2a0a48c4f7f54898903d0c3b0d619daa2023-09-02T06:25:19ZengElsevierSafety and Health at Work2093-79112019-09-01103327335Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary StudyRadin Zaid Radin Umar0Nadiah Ahmad1Isa Halim2Poh Yan Lee3Malek Hamid4Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Malaysia; Corresponding author. Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Melaka, Malaysia.Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, MalaysiaFaculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, MalaysiaFaculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, MalaysiaFaculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, MalaysiaBackground: There have been some concerns related to manual handling of large items in industry. Manual handling operations of large sheet metal may expose workers to risks related to efficiency as well as occupational safety and health. Large sheet metals are difficult to move and burdensome to lift/transfer, and handling the sharp sheet edges may result in contact stress and/or cut injuries on the workers. Methods: Through observation, interview, and immersive simulation activities, a few problems related to current handling of sheet metals were identified. A sheet metal trolley-lifter was then designed and fabricated to address these issues. A pilot study on the use of the developed trolley-lifter for handling sheet metals was conducted to compare between the new and traditional handling methods. Results: The pilot study of the trolley-lifter showed promising results in terms of improving the cycle time, manpower utilization, and working postures compared with the traditional handling method. Conclusion: The trolley-lifter offers an alternative solution to automation and a mechanized assistive device by providing a simple mechanism to assist the handling of sheet metals effectively and safely. Keywords: Design, Ergonomics, Intervention, Material handling, Sheet metalhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791117304365
spellingShingle Radin Zaid Radin Umar
Nadiah Ahmad
Isa Halim
Poh Yan Lee
Malek Hamid
Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary Study
Safety and Health at Work
title Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary Study
title_full Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary Study
title_fullStr Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary Study
title_full_unstemmed Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary Study
title_short Design and Development of an Ergonomic Trolley-Lifter for Sheet Metal Handling Task: A Preliminary Study
title_sort design and development of an ergonomic trolley lifter for sheet metal handling task a preliminary study
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791117304365
work_keys_str_mv AT radinzaidradinumar designanddevelopmentofanergonomictrolleylifterforsheetmetalhandlingtaskapreliminarystudy
AT nadiahahmad designanddevelopmentofanergonomictrolleylifterforsheetmetalhandlingtaskapreliminarystudy
AT isahalim designanddevelopmentofanergonomictrolleylifterforsheetmetalhandlingtaskapreliminarystudy
AT pohyanlee designanddevelopmentofanergonomictrolleylifterforsheetmetalhandlingtaskapreliminarystudy
AT malekhamid designanddevelopmentofanergonomictrolleylifterforsheetmetalhandlingtaskapreliminarystudy