• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.84-91
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• 2012

This study evaluated three forces (lifting, pushing and twisting) required to maneuver the single-wheel barrows according to handle height, width, horizontal angle and vertical angle. The four independent variables were varied in two levels. Handle height was varies in two levels : 'knuckle height (KH)' and 'KH + 0.1 ${\times}$ stature'. The two handle widths were '1.5 ${\times}$ shoulder width (SW)' and '1.75 ${\times}$ SW'. Two angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $15^{\circ}$ were used for horizontal and vertical angles. The 24 factorial design was used in the experiment. Twelve healthy male students (undergraduate and graduate) participated in the experiment. Subjects exerted three forces (pushing, lifting, and twisting clockwise) in each experimental condition. The order of 16 treatment conditions was determined randomly. Results showed that the effects of the four factors were different according to three forces. While lifting and twisting forces were higher in 'knuckle height', the pushing force was higher in 'KH + 0.1 ${\times}$ stature' (p < 0.05). Lifting and pushing forces showed higher values in the horizontal angle $0^{\circ}$ than in $15^{\circ}$. Handle width and vertical angle showed no statistically significant main effects on three forces (p > 0.05). Results of this study could be used as basic data for the ergonomic design of handle variables of one- or two-wheel barrows.