Load on the lumbar spine of flight attendants - North Wales Spine ...

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or pull FST or HST, respectively. Moving the small
containers (HST) shows clear, but contradictory results
according to the handling mode: regardless of different
surface inclinations and trolley loadings, no lumbar overload
risk was found for pushing, whereas exceeding the
recommended limit was frequently established for pulling a
HST. Pushing and pulling of the large containers (FST)
lead to ‘‘critical’’ lumbar load in cases of superimposition
of both considerable trolley mass and considerable floor
gradient. However, even the tasks inducing relevant
lumbar-overload risk can positively be modified by
adopting appropriate postures, that means by applying
an improved handling technique: pulling of HSTs should
never be performed using grasp positions at the top edge in
order to reduce the tilt tendency of a HST. For all of the
three other basic tasks, i.e. pushing the small containers as
well as pushing and pulling the large containers, grasping
at the upper edge of the trolley is recommended.
Besides individual performance characteristics, the construction
could also be improved, for example, by reconsidering
the current roller conception or by mounting suitable
handgrips or bars. A matter of fundamental concern seems
guaranteeing adequate maintenance, in particular, of the
rollers to keep friction in reasonable range.
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