An ergonomic assessment of the airline baggage handler

CHAPTER 5CONCULSIONS5.1 Author's Original GoalThe goal of this thesis was to highlight the ergonomic afflictions endemic to baggagehandlers and their work environment. The first step in this process was to establishcontact with the safety professionals of the major airline circuit at the local internationalairport. The second process was to perform an extensive literature review on the relevanttopics specific to the subject of baggage handlers and ergonomics. The third stage of theprocess for this thesis was to remotely monitor and observe baggage handlers performingeveryday tasks such as working flights, and transferring baggage.Unfortunately, given the stringent political climate that now exists since thetragedies of 9/11, monitoring transportation and airport operations were almostimpossible to establish. With the heightened state of national, as well as airport andairspace, security my access to the baggage handlers, along with the interviews, wasseverely restricted.On the topic of baggage handlers and ergonomics afflictions, scientific literatureand research is limited. This topic was not seriously being followed until about the late70's, early 80's. Since this time period there have been a few scientific papers related tothis issue, which I have reviewed in my thesis.60