BBE 517 - ERGONOMICS FOR CONSTRUCTION MAMAGEMENT
CLASS ASSIGNMENT
THE HUMANCAPABILITY AND LIMITATIONS IN LIFTING MATERIALS AT ACONSTRUCTION SITE
17TH NOVEMBER 2014

HUMAN LIFTING CAPABILITY AND LIMITATION ON CONSTRUCTION SITES
1.0 Introduction
Ergonomics is the science and art of fitting the job to the workers.
There are numerous activities that take place on site that enable realization of the structure being constructed. Generally construction involves the utilization of materials in undertaking the works. This will involve labour of the workers to put in place the materials as per the design are it mixing, lifting and placing them in place, installation, delivery and storage of the materials. Material handling can be by machines/equipment or directly by the workers themselves.
Handling and storing materials involves many different activities such as hoisting, manually carrying bags or material and stacking supplies. Employees can be injured by improperly lifting materials (manually and by machine), falling objects and improperly stacked supplies.
This paper concentrates on the human ability in the movement and placement of materials and other facilities as work progresses on site. An examination of activities on an active site have been undertaken to inform this paper on the practicability and applicability of researched theories relating to human lifting capability on site. The following sites have been examined and findings discussed later in this paper:
• Proposed Primary Security Screening Facility - JKIA Nairobi
• Construction of a Terminal Building at Isiolo Airport
• Crescent residential apartments in Kileleshwa
• Riverside place apartments in Lavington.
The human aspect on sites being examined relates to the handling of materials and other facilities on site. It is noted that manual handling involves activities that