The Airport Company is receiving complaints about high productivity demands on baggage load workers during peak summer season. An assessment was conducted of the working conditions. On average, international flights carry 200 passengers with one checked bag each weighing up to 30kg. Workers face high heat and noise levels. The largest risks to worker health are heat exposure and physical strain from lifting heavy bags. Productivity could be improved by automating scanning and using configurable conveyor belts to streamline loading.
The Airport Company is receiving complaints about high productivity demands on baggage load workers during peak summer season. An assessment was conducted of the working conditions. On average, international flights carry 200 passengers with one checked bag each weighing up to 30kg. Workers face high heat and noise levels. The largest risks to worker health are heat exposure and physical strain from lifting heavy bags. Productivity could be improved by automating scanning and using configurable conveyor belts to streamline loading.
The Airport Company is receiving complaints about high productivity demands on baggage load workers during peak summer season. An assessment was conducted of the working conditions. On average, international flights carry 200 passengers with one checked bag each weighing up to 30kg. Workers face high heat and noise levels. The largest risks to worker health are heat exposure and physical strain from lifting heavy bags. Productivity could be improved by automating scanning and using configurable conveyor belts to streamline loading.
The Airport Company is receiving complaints about high productivity demands on baggage load workers during peak summer season. An assessment was conducted of the working conditions. On average, international flights carry 200 passengers with one checked bag each weighing up to 30kg. Workers face high heat and noise levels. The largest risks to worker health are heat exposure and physical strain from lifting heavy bags. Productivity could be improved by automating scanning and using configurable conveyor belts to streamline loading.
The Airport Company at an international African commercial airport has recently received complaints that their baggage load workers are facing high productivity demands during the summer holidays while working under difficult conditions. The Company has hired you to conduct an independent assessment of working conditions of baggage control ground airport staff at the international terminal. They would like you to base your assessment on their peak season which is during summer holidays. A standard international plane carries on average 200 passengers, with on average one checked-in (loaded) bag each. Normal baggage has a weight limit of 23kg, but some overweight items can weigh up to 30kg.
Working hours Morning shift worktime: 5h00 to 8h30, 9h15 to 14h45 Breakfast: 45min Breaks: 2 breaks at 6h00 and 11h30 (15min each) Afternoon shift worktime: 13h45 to 18h30, 19h15 to 23h00 Dinner: 45min Breaks: 2 breaks at 15h30 and 22h00 (15min each)
Thermal levels (Normal working conditions)
The town where the airport is located had a warm humid summer with average high temperatures of 28ºC and humidity of 70%. The baggage workers often work outside in the sun. Typical globe temperature (between 12:00 – 16:00): 36 ºC Globe temperature between 12:00 – 16:00 is typically 50% higher than the rest of the daylight hours.
Physiological performance (Representative worker)
1. Male (John) 2. 36 years old 3. Average fitness 4. Weighs 85kg 5. Rest heartrate 68bpm 6. When he loads a bag, his heartrate is 150bpm 7. John has been doing this job for 5 years and is acclimatised
Noise levels A noise survey at the airplane rendered the following results. Background noise: Background noise during the day is measured to be on average 80 dBA.
Source 1: Neighbouring airplane start-up to the left of our plane, causes at our plane a noise of: 100dBA, duration: 5minutes
Source 2: An airplane takes off every 15 minutes with a noise of 150dBA on the runway for 2 minutes, this is less at our plane.
Page 1 of 4 pages Current process to load an airplane’s passenger luggage
1. Bags are weighed at check-in counter and placed on conveyor belt. (Done by Counter Assistant) 2. Bags move on conveyor belt to back of airport (already sorted by destination and flight - No staff involved) 3. Bags are packed on trolley and loaded in airplane (tasks listed with observed time in table below) The same team of 2 baggage control staff are responsible for these tasks.
Task Time (min)
Trollies are collected and parked next to the conveyor belt. 10 Baggage controllers walk (5km/h) during this time. Bags are scanned and packed on a trolley (to move between airplane and building) 20 One person scans all bags, another person loads all bags Trollies are pulled by small tractor between building to airplane. 10 Both baggage controllers walk (5km/h) to the airplane. The bags are loaded by hand from the trolley onto the conveyor belt moving bags into the plane, while being scanned again. 20 One person scans all bags, another person loads all bags
Total 60
Lift activity
See pictures below for lift scenarios.
Page 2 of 4 pages Question : Work Design (ECSA) This question measures ECSA Exit Level Outcome 2. A subminimum of “Satisfied” is required to pass the ECSA outcome. Exit-level Outcome 2: Application of scientific and engineering knowledge. Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural sciences, engineering fundamentals and an engineering speciality to solve complex engineering problems. Task: Management is considering the following baggage management technologies. However, they are not sure whether any of these will improve the working conditions or justify the cost. • Automatic barcode scanners that scan a bag automatically on the conveyor belt. • Configurable conveyor belts that can fit all planes, to load bag in plane.
Assess the risk of the worker’s health and productivity and report the 3 largest risks to management. Use an engineering approach to support your report. State clearly the health risk and the productivity risk. Show clearly in each case how you qualified or quantified the risk. Motivate an intervention in each case to firstly ensure that the worker’s health risk is reduced, and secondly that productivity is improved. Motivate any assumptions made.
No economic analysis is required for your answer.
Your answer will be assessed according to the rubric below:
Page 3 of 4 pages ECSA GA2 assessment guideline rubric Student fails to satisfy the above criteria, taken as a whole Student satisfies the above criteria, taken as a whole CRITERIA Not satisfied (F)* Marginally not satisfied (FM)* Marginally satisfied (PM)* Satisfied (P)* 1 Has the author demonstrated why the no evidence of why it is a the author mentions that the the author states that the problem the author states that the problem is problem in the case study is a complex complex problem problem is complex but does not is complex and gives some reasons complex and gives substantial proof of problem (used the terminology from the provide reason why why. But some questions remain its complexity. No doubt remains with range statement / level descriptor) with the reader. the reader. Has the author split the complex problem no evidence of why the use of the author mentions that the the author provides a methodology the author provides a clear into identified sub-problems, and explained mathematical tools to solve problem can be solved using to solve the sub-problems using methodology to solve the sub-problems the method to solve the sub-problems by sub problems mathematical tools but does not mathematical tools. But some using mathematical tools. No doubt one or more mathematical tools. provide a methodology how. questions remain with the reader. remains with the reader. Has the author split the complex problem no evidence of why the use of the author mentions that the the author provides a methodology the author provides a clear into identified sub-problems, and explained basic scientific tools to solve problem can be solved using basic to solve the sub-problems using methodology to solve the sub-problems the method to solve the sub-problems by sub problems scientific tools but does not basic scientific tools. But some using basic scientific tools. No doubt one or more basic scientific tools. provide a methodology how. questions remain with the reader. remains with the reader.
Has the author split the complex problem no evidence of why the use of the author mentions that the the author provides a methodology the author provides a clear into identified sub-problems, and explained fundamental engineering problem can be solved using to solve the sub-problems using methodology to solve the sub-problems the method to solve the sub-problems by tools to solve sub problems fundamental engineering tools fundamental engineering tools. But using fundamental engineering tools. one or more fundamental engineering but does not provide a some questions remain with the No doubt remains with the reader. tools. methodology how. reader. Has the author split the complex problem no evidence of why the use of the author mentions that the the author provides a methodology the author provides a clear into identified sub-problems, and explained specialist engineering tools to problem can be solved using to solve the sub-problems using methodology to solve the sub-problems the method to solve the sub-problems by solve sub problems specialist engineering tools but specialist engineering tools. But using specialist engineering tools. No one or more specialist engineering tools. does not provide a methodology some questions remain with the doubt remains with the reader. how. reader. Did the author write the report in a clear insufficient clarity on the risk the author describes that the the author provides a report so the author provides a clear concise concise manner for management to and the possible way forward problem can be solved but that management understand the report so that management understand understand how the risk is qualified and to provides little clarity on risk or risk and can implement going the risk and can implement going enable management to make a decision on make suggestions that are not forward.. But some questions forward. No doubt remains with the the alternative options to reduce the risk really implementable. remain with the reader. reader. going forward. The author reflected on the methodology insufficient evidence that the the reader is not convinced that the author reflects on the The reflection statement leaves no used to solve the complex problem. The author embeds trust in the the author takes responsibility for suggested solution and leaves a doubt with the reader that the reflection statement is professional and reader that the suggested the solution feeling of respect with the reader. suggested solution is the way forward. embeds trust in the reader. solution will reduce the risk But some questions remain with the reader.
