ISO 11228-2-2007 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 11228-2:2007 — Ergonomics — Manual handling — Part 2: Pushing and pulling. This international standard gives recommended limits and practical guidance for whole‑body pushing and pulling tasks. It defines the types of push/pull activities covered, describes relevant risk factors (force, frequency, distance, posture, friction/ground conditions, handle design) and provides recommendations to evaluate and reduce musculoskeletal risk for the healthy adult working population. The standard is intended for designers, employers, occupational health and safety professionals and others involved in the design or redesign of work, workstations, trolleys/carts and work organization.

Abstract

ISO 11228-2:2007 provides guidance and recommended exposure limits for manual pushing and pulling performed by one person using two hands in a standing or walking posture. The document explains how to assess key risk factors that influence whole‑body load (initial and sustained forces, frequency, travel distance, handle height and orientation, floor/friction conditions, posture and task duration) and offers practical guidance for reducing risk through design, task modification or organisational controls. The recommendations are based on experimental studies of push/pull tasks and related musculoskeletal loading, discomfort and fatigue, and are intended to protect the majority of healthy adult workers.

General information

• Status: Published (ISO International Standard; confirmed current in ISO periodic reviews; a revision work item has been registered by the responsible technical committee).
• Publication date: April 2007 (ISO 11228-2:2007).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.180 (Ergonomics).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2007). Amendment published subsequently (Amendment 1 issued in 2022). A revision work item (new edition) is under development.
• Number of pages: 65 pages (main publication).

Scope

The standard covers whole‑body pushing and pulling tasks performed by one person using two hands on objects located in front of the operator while standing or walking. It excludes seated push/pull, two‑person operations, use of external supports or handles that change the basic task geometry, and activities outside the defined force/gesture types. ISO 11228-2:2007 is intended to allow assessment of worker exposure to push/pull demands and to provide limits and design guidance that reduce the risk of work‑related musculoskeletal disorders in the general adult working population.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and scope of pushing and pulling (whole‑body, two‑hand, single operator, upright posture).
• Recommended exposure limits for initial and sustained push/pull forces, related to task frequency and distance.
• Assessment factors: handle height and orientation, hand force direction, object mass and inertia, floor or surface friction, speed of movement, number of movements per time, task duration and rest allowances.
• Measurement and assessment methods: how to measure applied forces and record task parameters for risk evaluation.
• Design guidance for trolleys, carts and handles to minimise required forces and harmful postures (handle geometry, grip height, wheel selection, rolling resistance).
• Recommendations for organisational and work‑practice controls (task rotation, reducing travel distance, using mechanical assistance).
• Notes on applicability and limitations — intended for healthy adult workers and not a substitute for task‑specific professional assessment in special populations or medical cases.

Typical use and users

ISO 11228-2:2007 is used by ergonomists, occupational health and safety practitioners, industrial designers, facility and warehouse managers, equipment manufacturers (trolleys, carts, hospital beds, material handling devices), regulatory authorities and researchers. Typical applications include risk assessments of push/pull tasks, specification and design of wheeled equipment and work layouts, development of safe work procedures and training materials, and the selection of engineering controls to reduce manual handling loads.

Related standards

ISO 11228 is a multipart series on manual handling. Closely related parts include ISO 11228-1 (Lifting and carrying — revised editions exist) and ISO 11228-3 (Handling of low loads at high frequency / repetitive movements). Other related ergonomics and occupational standards include ISO 11226 (static working postures), ISO 11299 (manual handling equipment — evaluation), and national guidance and risk assessment standards for manual handling and musculoskeletal risk control.

Keywords

ergonomics, manual handling, pushing, pulling, push/pull, force limits, risk assessment, musculoskeletal disorders, trolleys, carts, handle design, rolling resistance, frequency, posture, ISO 11228

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 11228-2:2007 is the part of the ISO 11228 series that provides ergonomic guidance and recommended limits specifically for manual pushing and pulling tasks performed by a single person using two hands while standing or walking.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers assessment factors and recommended exposure limits for whole‑body push/pull activities, including force magnitudes (initial and sustained), frequency, travel distance, handle height and orientation, floor/friction considerations, measurement methods and practical design and organisational measures to reduce risk.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Ergonomists, occupational safety and health professionals, equipment designers and manufacturers, facility managers, researchers and regulators use it to evaluate push/pull tasks and to guide safer equipment and workplace design.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The published edition is ISO 11228-2:2007 (Edition 1). The standard has been subject to ISO periodic review and an amendment was issued; a work item to revise/replace the 2007 edition has been registered, so a new edition is under development. Practitioners should check national or ISO catalogues for the latest status before relying on the document for compliance decisions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 11228 is a multipart series addressing manual handling. Part 1 covers lifting and carrying, Part 2 covers pushing and pulling, and Part 3 covers repetitive handling of low loads / upper limb exertions; other ergonomics standards form a related set.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: ergonomics; manual handling; pushing; pulling; force limits; risk assessment; musculoskeletal; trolley/cart design; handle height; rolling resistance.