ABSTRACT
Quantitative models have been developed over the past 100 years to summarize and explain the large number of investigations documenting human capacity and task demands. The objective of this chapter is to introduce the reader to many of these models so that they might be more diligently used in designing safer MMH tasks. In this chapter, we focus on the three most common approaches used to characterize worker capability: the biomechanical approach, the physiological approach, and the psychophysical approach. While each section provides some basic information on the available models, there is not sufficient room in this chapter to present all models in detail. Those who need to use models of the type presented in this chapter should consult the original sources from which these models were summarized to ensure they are applied properly.
