An ergonomic assessment of the airline baggage handler

26exceeded 70lbs (32kg). However, 10 of the 16 felt that an enforcement of a limitation ofbags to be handled/lifted by baggage handlers was necessary.3.2.3 Author's Views and Comments on Dell's Survey of Safety ProfessionalsDell's survey of airline safety professional was the first study, which provided extensivedata on the baggage handlers back injury problems, and to successfully coordinatinginformation amongst several companies in the airline industry. The surveys alsoprovided comprehensive data on problems that existed with specific work areas, andtypes of aircrafts, while providing redesign options and engineering controls, as possiblesolutions. Dell's work has served as the basis for latter study and research done in thisfield of study.Although Dell's survey of airline safety professional covered mostly engineeringcontrol and redesign issues of work areas and facilities layout, he lacked focus on theaspects of administrative control on back problems. Questions such as do you as asupervisor support and endorse stretching and lifting training and techniques for yourbaggage handlers, were absent from the questionnaire list. Another follow up questionto the prior would be, if yes, does your airline enforce this training through supervisorand floor manager supervision? This would have been an important question since theairline safety professionals are directly responsible for the safety of the baggage handler.Dell's survey did pose the question of back care training and how effective this trainingwas towards reducing the incident rate of back injury, which 80% of the baggagehandlers thought that it would (Dell, 1998a and 1998b). However this was the onlyquestion that focused on this type of administrative control.