Time Study for the Power Stow Rollertrack Conveyor for Airport Baggage Handling

A time study was conducted to evaluate the operation efficiency and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) for using the Power Stow Rollertrack Conveyor (PSRC) for baggage handling in the cargo holds of narrow-bodied aircrafts. The PSRC employs a retractable roller conveyor from a belt loader to provide powered transportation for loading and unloading baggage in the cargo holds. Thirteen baggage handlers at the Boston Logan International Airport participated in the data collection, which involved videotaping their work postures and methods during baggage handling operations in the cargo holds of the Boeing 737 and 757 aircrafts. Results showed that the PSRC provided improved efficiency in handling baggage, especially for unloading baggage by about 2 bags per minute. There was no significant difference in the total time spent on the risk factors for MSDs, such as lifting, pushing and pulling tasks per person for each bag between PSRC users and non-users.