Manual Material Handling Guidelines

The spreadsheets in this Microsoft Excel Workbook provide guidelines for manual handling tasks.
definitions/clarification of terms, hold the mouse over any field that has a red triangle on the upper
corner. To use the spreadsheets:
1. Select the tab below that corresponds to the calculation needed (NIOSH Lifting Equation, Push,
2. For the NIOSH Lifting Guidelines, enter data into the 8 required cells representing model inputs.
(this is used for single-task lifts, where task variables do not vary significantly from task to task or when only one task is of interest (e.g. w

3. For Push, Pull, or Carry Guidelines, select the appropriate input values from the pull-down menu
4. Read the Recommended Weight Limit, Lifting Index, Maximum Acceptable Weight, or Force.

Ó Copyright 2003 by Humantech, Inc.

, or Carry)

case analysis))
 NIOSH Lifting Guidelines
Job Title

Model Inputs: Enter Data Multipliers: Model Outputs:

Horizontal Location (H 10 in HM = 1.00 Recommended Weight Limit (RWL):
(min 10", max 25") (10" is best)

Vertical Location (V) 12 in VM = 0.87

28.0 lb.
(min 0", max 70") (30" is best)
Lifting Index (LI = Load/RWL):
Travel Distance (D) 30 in DM = 0.88
(min 10", max 70") (10" is best)
0.54

Angle of Asymmetry (A 30 deg AM = 0.90

(min 0°, max 135°) (0 is best)
Frequency Independent RWL:
Coupling 2 CM = 0.95
(1=good, 2=fair, 3=poor) (1 is best) 33.3 lb.

Duration 2 hr(s) Dur = 2 hrs. Frequency Independent LI:

(Enter 1, 2 or 8 hrs. only) (1 is best)
0.45
Frequency 2 l/m FM = 0.84
(min 0.2, max 15 lifts/min)(0.2 is best) Recommendations:

Average Load Weight 15 lb

Nominal Risk
Maximum Load Weight 15 lb

NOTE: The NIOSH guidelines in this Microsoft Excel Workbook are derived from a paper titled
"Revised NIOSH Equation for the Design and Evaluation of Manual Lifting Tasks" published in
Ergonomics (Waters, Putz-Anderson, Garg, and Fine, 1993).

Ó Copyright 2003 by Humantech, Inc.

Revised NIOSH Lifting Guidelines Copyright 2002 by Humantech, Inc.

 inches cm
10 25.4
NIOSH Lifting Guidelines - METRIC
Job Title 70 177.8

Model Inputs: Enter Data Multipliers: Model Outputs:

Horizontal Location (H cm HM = Recommended Weight Limit (RWL):
(min 25, max 64) (25 is best)

Vertical Location (V) cm VM =

Kg
(min 0, max 178) (75 is best)
Lifting Index (LI = Load/RWL):
Travel Distance (D) cm DM =
(min 25, max 178) (25 is best)
0.00
Angle of Asymmetry (A deg AM =
(min 0°, max 135°) (0 is best)
Frequency Independent RWL:
Coupling CM =
(1=good, 2=fair, 3=poor) (1 is best) Kg

Duration hr(s) Dur = Frequency Independent LI:

(Enter 1, 2 or 8 hrs. only) (1 is best)
0.00
Frequency l/m FM = 0.00
(min 0.2 lifts/min) (0.2 is best) Recommendations:

Average Load Weight kg

Maximum Load Weight kg

NOTE: The revised NIOSH guidelines in this Microsoft Excel Workbook are derived from a paper titled
"Revised NIOSH Equation for the Design and Evaluation of Manual Lifting Tasks" published in
Ergonomics (Waters, Putz-Anderson, Garg, and Fine, 1993).

Revised NIOSH Lifting Guidelines - METRIC Copyright 2002 by Humantech, Inc.

 NIOSH Composite Lifting Guidelines (scroll down to view results)

Job Title
Tasks
Model Inputs: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Average Load Weight lb lb lb lb lb lb lb lb lb lb

Max Load Weight lb lb lb lb lb lb lb lb lb lb

Horizontal Location (H) in in in in in in in in in in

(min 10", max 25")
Vertical Location (V) in in in in in in in in in in
(min 0", max 70")
Travel Distance (D) in in in in in in in in in in
(min 10", max 70")
Angle of Asymmetry (A) deg deg deg deg deg deg deg deg deg deg
(min 0°, max 135°)
Frequency l/m l/m l/m l/m l/m l/m l/m l/m l/m l/m
(min 0.2 lifts/min)
Duration hr(s) hr(s) hr(s) hr(s) hr(s) hr(s) hr(s) hr(s) hr(s) hr(s)
(1 hr., 2 hrs., 8 hrs.)
Coupling
(1=good, 2=fair, 3=poor)

Tasks
Model Results: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

STRWL 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

FIRWL 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

STLI 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

FILI 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

CLI = 0.00

NIOSH Composite Lifting Guidelines Copyright 2002 by Humantech, Inc.

 Push Guidelines
###

Gender
###
###
Height

Percent
35 in (89 cm) - females only - Forearm Heig
Distance 22 in (57 cm) - females only - Thigh Height
###
###
Frequency ###

#VALUE!
###
###
###

Maximum Acceptable Information is

Initial Force still missing ###
###

Maximum Acceptable Information is

Sustained Force still missing ###
###
NOTE: The push, pull, and carry guidelines are derived from a paper titled "The
Design of Manual Handling Tasks: Revised Tables of Maximum Acceptable
Weight and Forces" published in Ergonomics (Snook and Ciriello, 1991).

Push Guidelines Copyright 2002 by Humantech, Inc.

 Pull Guidelines
###

Gender

###
Height ###

Percent

35 in (89 cm) - females only - Forearm H

Distance 22 in (57 cm) - females only - Thigh Hei
###
###
Frequency ###
#VALUE! ###
###
###
Maximum
Information is still
Acceptable Initial
missing ###
Force ###
Maximum
Information is still
Acceptable
missing
Sustained Force
###
NOTE: The push, pull, and carry guidelines are derived from a paper titled
"The Design of Manual Handling Tasks: Revised Tables of Maximum
Acceptable Weight and Forces" published in Ergonomics (Snook and Ciriello,
1991). ###

Pull Guidelines Copyright 2002 by Humantech, Inc.

 Carry Guidelines
###

Gender

###
Height

Percent

###
Distance ###
###
###
Frequency ###
###
###
Maximum
Information is
Acceptable
still missing
Weight ###

NOTE: The push, pull, and carry guidelines are derived from a paper
titled "The Design of Manual Handling Tasks: Revised Tables of
Maximum Acceptable Weight and Forces" published in Ergonomics
(Snook and Ciriello, 1991).

Carry Guidelines Copyright 2002 by Humantech, Inc.

Table D.7 - Maximum acceptable forces of pull for males and females (pounds - force)

ONE PULL EVERY ONE PULL EVERY ONE PULL EVERY

6 12 1 2 5 30 8 6 12 1 2 5 30 8 6 12 1 2 5 30 8
sec min hr sec min hr sec min hr

Male - INITIAL FORCES (C)

a) b) 7 foot pull 25 foot pull 50 foot pull
90 31 35 40 40 42 42 51 24 29 35 35 37 40 46 29 33 33 33 35 37 44
57 75 37 42 48 48 51 43 62 31 33 44 44 46 46 57 35 40 42 42 44 44 53
50 44 51 57 57 62 62 73 35 40 53 53 55 57 68 42 46 48 48 53 53 64

90 42 48 55 55 59 59 70 33 40 51 51 52 53 64 40 44 46 46 51 51 62
37 75 51 59 68 68 70 73 86 42 46 62 62 64 66 79 48 55 57 57 62 62 73
50 62 70 79 79 86 86 103 51 57 73 73 77 77 92 57 64 68 68 73 73 88

90 48 55 62 62 66 66 79 40 44 57 57 59 62 73 44 51 53 53 57 57 68
25 75 59 66 75 75 81 81 97 46 53 68 68 73 75 88 53 62 64 64 68 70 84
50 70 79 90 90 97 97 117 55 64 81 81 88 88 106 64 73 77 77 81 84 99

Male - SUSTAINED FORCES (D)

90 18 22 26 29 33 33 40 13 18 22 24 26 26 33 15 18 20 20 22 24 29
57 75 22 29 35 37 42 44 51 18 22 29 31 35 35 42 20 22 26 26 31 31 37
50 29 35 44 46 51 53 62 22 29 35 37 42 44 51 24 29 31 33 37 37 44

90 22 29 35 37 42 44 53 18 22 29 31 35 35 42 20 22 26 26 31 31 37
37 75 29 37 46 48 55 57 66 24 29 37 40 44 46 55 24 31 33 33 40 40 48
50 35 46 57 59 68 70 81 29 37 46 48 55 57 68 31 37 42 42 48 51 59

90 24 31 37 40 44 46 55 20 24 31 33 37 37 44 20 24 26 29 33 33 40
25 75 31 42 51 51 57 59 70 24 31 42 42 48 48 57 26 31 35 37 42 42 51
50 37 51 62 64 70 75 88 31 40 51 53 59 62 73 33 40 44 46 51 59 62

Females - INITIAL FORCES (C)

90 29 35 37 40 44 46 48 29 31 35 35 40 42 44 22 26 29 31 33 35 37
53 75 35 42 44 46 53 55 57 35 37 42 42 46 48 53 26 31 35 35 40 42 44
50 42 48 53 55 62 64 68 42 44 48 51 55 57 62 31 35 42 42 46 48 53

90 31 35 40 42 46 48 51 31 33 35 37 42 44 46 22 26 31 31 35 37 40
35 75 35 42 46 48 53 57 59 37 40 42 44 48 51 55 26 33 37 37 42 44 45
50 42 51 55 57 64 66 70 42 46 51 53 57 59 64 31 37 42 44 48 51 55

90 33 37 42 44 46 51 53 33 35 37 40 44 46 48 24 29 33 33 37 40 42
22 75 37 44 48 51 57 59 62 37 42 44 46 51 53 57 29 33 37 40 44 46 48
50 44 53 57 59 68 70 73 44 48 53 55 62 64 66 33 40 44 48 51 53 57

Females - SUSTAINED FORCES (D)

90 13 20 22 22 24 26 33 15 18 20 20 22 24 29 13 15 15 18 18 20 24
53 75 18 26 29 31 33 35 44 20 24 26 26 29 31 40 15 20 22 22 24 26 33
50 22 35 37 40 42 46 55 26 29 33 35 37 40 48 20 24 29 29 31 33 42

90 13 20 22 22 24 26 31 15 18 20 20 22 22 29 11 13 15 15 18 20 24
35 75 18 26 29 29 33 35 42 20 22 24 26 29 31 37 15 18 22 22 24 26 31
50 22 33 35 37 42 44 55 24 29 33 33 35 40 48 20 24 28 29 31 33 40

90 11 18 20 20 22 24 29 13 15 18 18 20 22 26 11 13 15 15 15 18 22
22 75 15 24 26 26 29 31 40 18 20 24 24 26 29 35 15 18 20 20 22 24 29
50 20 31 33 35 37 40 51 22 26 29 31 33 35 44 18 22 24 26 29 31 37
Table D.7 - Maximum acceptable forces of pull for males and females (pounds - force)

ONE PULL EVERY ONE PULL EVERY ONE PULL EVERY

6 12 1 2 5 30 8 15 22 1 2 5 30 8 25 35 1 2 5 30 8 1 2 5 30 8 1 2 5 30
sec min hr sec min hr sec min hr min hr min

Male - INITIAL FORCES (C)

a) b) 2.1 metre pull 7.6 metre pull 15.2 metre pull
90 14 16 18 18 19 19 23 11 13 16 16 17 18 21 13 15 15 15 16 17 20 12 13 15 15 19 10 11 13 13
75 17 19 22 22 23 24 28 14 15 20 20 21 21 26 16 18 19 19 20 20 24 14 16 19 19 23 12 14 16 16
144 50 20 23 26 26 28 28 33 16 18 24 24 25 26 31 19 21 22 22 24 24 29 17 19 22 22 27 15 16 19 19
25 24 27 31 31 32 33 39 19 21 28 28 29 30 36 22 25 26 26 28 28 33 20 22 26 26 32 17 19 22 22
10 26 30 34 34 36 37 44 21 24 31 31 33 33 40 24 28 29 29 31 31 38 22 25 29 29 37 20 22 25 25
90 19 22 25 25 27 27 32 15 18 23 23 24 24 29 18 20 21 21 23 23 28 16 18 21 21 26 14 16 18 18
75 23 27 31 31 32 33 39 19 21 28 28 29 30 36 22 25 26 26 28 28 33 20 22 26 26 32 17 19 22 22
95 50 28 32 36 36 39 39 47 23 26 33 33 35 35 42 26 29 31 31 33 33 40 24 27 31 31 38 20 23 27 27
25 33 37 42 42 45 45 54 26 30 39 39 41 41 49 30 34 36 36 38 39 46 27 31 36 36 45 24 27 31 31
10 37 42 48 48 51 51 61 30 33 43 43 46 47 56 33 38 41 41 43 44 52 31 35 40 40 50 27 30 35 35
90 22 25 28 28 30 30 36 18 20 26 26 27 28 33 20 23 24 24 26 26 31 18 21 24 24 30 16 18 21 21
75 27 30 34 34 37 37 44 21 24 31 31 33 34 40 24 28 29 29 31 32 38 22 25 29 29 36 19 22 25 25
64 50 32 36 41 41 44 44 53 25 29 37 37 40 40 48 29 33 35 35 37 38 45 27 30 35 35 43 23 26 30 30
25 37 42 48 48 51 51 61 30 34 44 44 46 47 56 34 39 41 41 43 44 52 31 35 41 41 50 27 30 35 35
10 42 48 54 54 57 58 69 33 38 49 49 52 53 63 38 43 46 46 49 49 59 35 39 46 46 57 30 34 39 39
Male - SUSTAINED FORCES (D)
90 8.2 10 12 13 15 15 18 5.9 8.2 10 11 12 12 15 6.8 8.2 9.1 9.1 10 11 13 7 8 9 11 13 6 7 8 9
75 10 13 16 17 19 20 23 8.2 10 13 14 16 16 19 9.1 10 12 12 14 14 17 9 10 12 14 16 7 9 10 11
144 50 13 16 20 21 23 24 28 10 13 16 17 19 20 23 11 13 14 15 17 17 20 11 13 15 17 20 9 11 12 14
25 15 20 24 25 28 29 34 12 15 20 20 23 24 28 13 15 17 18 20 21 24 13 15 18 20 24 11 13 15 17
10 17 22 27 28 32 33 39 14 17 22 23 26 27 32 14 17 19 20 23 24 28 15 17 20 23 27 12 14 17 19
90 10 13 16 17 19 20 24 8.2 10 13 14 16 16 19 9.1 10 12 12 14 14 17 9 10 12 14 17 7 9 10 12
75 13 17 21 22 25 26 30 11 13 17 18 20 21 25 11 14 15 15 18 18 22 12 13 16 18 21 10 11 13 15
95 50 16 21 26 27 31 32 37 13 17 21 22 25 26 31 14 17 19 19 22 23 27 14 17 19 22 26 12 14 16 19
25 19 26 31 33 37 38 45 16 20 26 27 30 31 37 17 20 22 23 26 27 32 17 20 23 27 32 14 17 19 22
10 22 29 36 37 42 43 51 18 23 29 31 34 36 42 19 23 26 27 30 31 37 19 23 27 31 36 16 19 22 25
90 11 14 17 18 20 21 25 9.1 11 14 15 17 17 20 9.1 11 12 13 15 15 18 9 11 13 15 18 8 9 11 12
75 14 19 23 23 26 27 32 11 14 19 19 22 22 26 12 14 16 17 19 19 23 12 14 17 19 23 10 12 14 16
64 50 17 23 28 29 32 34 40 14 18 23 24 27 28 33 15 18 20 21 23 24 28 15 18 21 24 27 13 15 17 20
25 20 27 33 35 39 40 48 17 21 27 28 32 33 39 18 21 24 25 28 29 34 18 21 25 28 33 15 18 21 24
10 23 31 38 40 45 46 54 19 24 31 32 37 38 45 20 24 27 28 32 33 39 21 24 28 32 38 17 20 24 27
Females - INITIAL FORCES (C)
90 13 16 17 18 20 21 22 13 14 16 16 18 19 20 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 12 13 14 15 17 12 13 14 15
75 16 19 20 21 24 25 26 16 17 19 19 21 22 24 12 14 16 16 18 19 20 14 16 17 18 20 14 16 17 18
135 50 19 22 24 25 28 29 31 19 20 22 23 25 26 28 14 16 19 19 21 22 24 17 18 20 21 24 17 18 20 21
25 21 25 28 29 32 33 35 21 23 25 26 29 30 32 16 19 21 22 25 26 27 19 21 23 24 27 19 21 23 24
10 24 28 31 32 36 37 39 24 26 28 29 32 34 36 18 21 24 25 27 29 30 22 24 25 27 31 22 24 25 27
90 14 16 18 19 21 22 23 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 10 12 14 14 16 17 18 13 14 15 16 18 13 14 15 16
75 16 19 21 22 24 26 27 17 18 19 20 22 23 25 12 15 17 17 19 20 20 15 16 18 19 21 15 16 18 19
88.9 50 19 23 25 26 29 30 32 19 21 23 24 26 27 29 14 17 19 20 22 23 25 18 19 21 22 25 18 19 21 22
25 22 26 29 30 33 35 37 22 24 26 27 30 31 33 16 20 22 23 26 27 28 20 22 24 25 29 20 22 24 25
10 25 29 32 33 37 39 41 25 27 29 30 33 35 37 18 22 25 26 29 30 32 23 25 26 28 32 23 25 26 28
90 15 17 19 20 21 23 24 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 11 13 15 15 17 18 19 13 14 15 17 19 13 14 15 17
75 17 20 22 23 26 27 28 17 19 20 21 23 24 26 13 15 17 18 20 21 22 16 17 18 20 22 16 17 18 20
57 50 20 24 26 27 31 32 33 20 22 24 25 28 29 30 15 18 20 22 23 24 26 18 20 22 23 26 18 20 22 23
25 23 27 30 31 35 36 38 23 25 27 29 32 33 35 17 21 23 24 27 28 30 21 23 25 27 30 21 23 25 27
10 26 31 34 35 39 40 43 26 28 31 32 35 37 39 19 23 26 27 30 31 33 24 26 28 30 34 24 26 28 30
Females - SUSTAINED FORCES (D)
90 6 9 10 10 11 12 15 7 8 9 9 10 11 13 6 7 7 8 8 9 11 6 7 7 8 10 6 9 7 7
 75 8 12 13 14 15 16 20 9 11 12 12 13 14 18 7 9 10 10 11 12 15 8 9 10 10 14 8 6 9 9
135 50 10 16 17 18 19 21 25 12 13 15 16 17 18 22 9.1 11 13 13 14 15 19 11 12 12 13 17 10 11 11 12
25 13 19 21 21 23 25 31 14 16 18 19 21 22 27 11 14 15 16 17 19 23 13 15 15 16 21 12 13 14 14
10 15 22 24 25 27 29 36 16 19 21 22 24 26 32 13 16 18 18 20 22 27 15 17 17 18 25 14 15 16 17
90 6 9 10 10 11 12 14 7 8 9 9 10 10 13 5 6 7 7 8 9 11 6 7 7 7 10 5 6 6 7
75 8 12 13 13 15 16 19 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 7 8 10 10 11 12 14 8 9 9 10 13 7 8 9 9
89 50 10 15 16 17 19 20 25 11 13 15 15 16 18 22 9 11 13 13 14 15 18 10 12 12 13 17 9 11 11 12
25 12 18 20 21 23 24 30 14 16 18 18 20 22 27 11 13 15 15 17 18 22 12 14 15 15 21 11 13 13 14
10 14 21 23 24 26 28 35 16 18 21 21 23 25 31 13 15 17 18 20 21 26 15 16 17 18 24 13 15 16 16
90 5 8 9 9 10 11 13 6 7 8 8 9 10 12 5 6 7 7 7 8 10 6 6 6 7 9 5 6 6 6
75 7 11 12 12 13 14 18 8 9 11 11 12 13 16 7 8 9 9 10 11 13 7 8 9 9 12 7 8 8 8
57 50 9 14 15 16 17 18 23 10 12 13 14 15 16 20 8 10 11 12 13 14 17 9 11 11 12 16 9 10 10 11
25 11 17 18 19 21 22 27 13 15 16 17 19 20 24 10 12 14 14 16 17 21 11 13 13 14 19 11 12 12 13
10 13 20 21 22 24 26 32 15 17 19 20 22 23 28 12 14 16 16 18 19 24 13 15 16 16 22 12 14 14 15
8 2 5 30 8
hr min

16 10 11 11 14
20 12 14 14 17
24 14 16 16 20
28 16 19 19 24
31 18 21 21 27
23 13 16 16 19
28 16 19 19 24
33 20 23 23 28
38 23 26 26 33
43 26 30 30 37
26 15 18 18 22
31 19 21 21 27
37 22 26 26 32
43 26 30 30 37
49 29 34 34 42

10 6 6 7 9
14 7 8 10 11
17 9 10 12 14
20 11 12 14 17
23 12 14 16 19
14 7 9 10 12
18 9 11 13 15
22 12 14 16 18
26 14 16 19 22
30 16 19 21 25
15 8 9 10 12
19 10 12 13 16
23 12 14 16 20
28 15 17 20 23
32 17 20 23 27

17 12 13 14 15
20 14 15 16 18
24 16 18 19 21
27 19 20 22 25
31 21 23 24 27
18 12 13 14 16
21 15 16 17 19
25 17 18 20 22
29 20 21 23 26
32 22 24 25 29
19 13 14 15 17
22 15 16 18 20
26 18 19 21 23
30 21 22 24 27
34 23 25 27 30

9 5 5 5 7
12 7 7 7 10
16 8 9 9 12
17 10 11 11 15
23 12 12 13 17
9 5 5 5 7
12 6 7 7 9
15 8 8 9 12
19 10 10 11 15
22 12 12 13 17
8 4 5 5 6
11 6 6 6 9
14 8 8 8 11
17 9 10 10 13
20 11 11 12 16