A Work Physiology Study of the Relative Effects of Pace and Weight in a Carton Handling Task

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the main differences in effects of variations in load weight and work pace in a carton handling task. Energy expenditure rates and heart rates of six subjects were gathered for 16 treatment combinations and were subjected to analysis of variance. Main findings were that pace and weight were significant in their effects on both indices; pace and subjects were significant for energy expenditure but not for heart rate; and given a fixed work output, it is preferable physiologically to move heavier weights at slower paces than lighter weights at faster paces.