TRANSPORT BY MUSCLE POWER OVER SHORT DISTANCES

Abstract

The energy expenditure for piling up loads and shifting loads in a horizontal plane was measured. The best efficiency was found with loads lifted from a height of 0.5 to 1.0 m above ground, and the worst efficiency with loads lifted from ground level. It was much more efficient to transport the same total load in units of 15 to 28 kg instead of in units of 4 kg. In house-building the use of large bricks lifted from a height of 0.5 to 1.0 m above ground level instead of from the ground may save 80 per cent of manpower compared with the use of bricks of traditional size and type.