Ergonomics: Push-pull forces

I got this inquiry from a county nursing home in central PA & I'm looking for some help: Our director of nursing needs to know how to figure the weight when someone is pushing a wheel chair with a resident. This is mainly for people on weight restriction pushing/pulling (employee has had an injury & is on restricted duty). Do we count the weight of the wheel chair plus the person? How do we compensate for the decreased weight because of the wheels?

Joe Armstrong
PMA Group Workers' Compensation Carrier

Dear Joe:

A push/pull force gage is required. The key is not the weight, but the resistance to moving. The only method I know is to use a force gage. We have to do this to measure starting/stopping & turning forces with our lifts.  If you let us know the type of carpet you are using, we may be able to conduct an in-house measurement that will provide you a close approximation of the pushing force required.

Stay safe,

The Lift Doctor