An ergonomic assessment of the airline baggage handler

65injury because the top and lower belts level are too high low (Vi, et al., 1998).Consolidating two belt systems to one is the optimal. Responses from baggage handlersas well as height optimization tests of conveyors show that 65 to 83cm, from the groundto the conveyor frame's edge, is the ideal height for a single tier conveyor (Vi, et al.,1998, and Thomas et al., 1995). The optimal speed for conveyor belts was shown to be0.48 m/s, which is considered standard for most conveyors. Faster speeds were shown tocause higher error rates in baggage handling quality, i.e. misread labels on bags andwrong destination choices. Test on conveyors has found that the most optimum anglewas found to be an angle of about 25° degrees. Angles much higher than 25°, by 5°degrees or more, tested higher for dropped bags rolling of the convey line, thus reducingthe quality and speed of baggage handling (Thomas et al., 1995). It was alsorecommended that the conveyor have some form of paddling on the sides and edgesbecause it was recognized that baggage handlers would lean on the sides of the conveyorto get leverage or rest when attempting to handle heavy or oversized bags (Thomas et al.,1995). A clearance space underneath the conveyor should be allotted for baggagehandlers to position their feet when attempting to lift heavier bags, as research has shownbaggage handlers tend to hurt their knees and lower legs in the attempt to positionthemselves close to the conveyor (Thomas et al., 1995).In addition to this, it would be better if manufactures of airport equipment couldgo one step further by making baggage belt systems' height fully adjustable to accountfor a larger scale of the working population, i.e. woman, and smaller/larger men outsidethe average population. Moreover, automated or mechanical lifting aids built into or ontop of the conveyor systems would allow baggage handlers to lift heavier bags without