Push-Pull Force Assessment Calculator

Calculates the physical force required to initiate and sustain movement of a wheeled or slid load, based on weight, surface/equipment friction, and incline — a first step in a push/pull ergonomic risk assessment.

Scope note: There is no single universal "safe" push/pull force — international guidance (ISO 11228-2) and the widely-used Snook & Ciriello psychophysical tables evaluate acceptable force based on population percentile, distance, frequency, duration, and hand height, not a fixed number. This calculator estimates the force physically required to move your load (the demand side). Whether that force is acceptable for your workforce requires comparing it against the full Snook & Ciriello tables, ISO 11228-2, or a qualified ergonomist's assessment — this tool only gives a rough general-reference flag, not a definitive population-based limit.

Total Load Weight (lbs) Include the object plus any cart/trolley weight.

Incline / Ramp Angle (°) 0 for level ground.

Surface / Equipment Type Sets representative initial (breakaway) and sustained friction coefficients — both remain editable.

Initial (Breakaway) Friction Coefficient

Sustained (Rolling) Friction Coefficient

0 lbf

Initial Force Required

0 lbf

Sustained Force Required

Formula Reference

Required Force = (Weight × cos(Incline) × Friction Coefficient) + (Weight × sin(Incline))
The first term is the friction resistance; the second is the gravity component when pushing/pulling up a ramp (zero on level ground).

General Indicative Reference (Not a Population-Based Limit)

Some ergonomics guidance cites a rough indicative range of approximately 45–56 lbf (200–250 N) for initiating movement as a commonly-referenced general benchmark — but the actual acceptable limit for your specific task depends on distance, frequency, duration, posture, and the percentage of the working population you want to protect (typically 75% or 90%), per the full Snook & Ciriello tables or ISO 11228-2. Treat any result near or above this range as a signal to get a full psychophysical table assessment or a qualified ergonomist's review — not as a pass/fail result on its own.

This calculator estimates physically required push/pull force only (a friction/incline-based demand calculation) — it does not determine whether that force is acceptable for your workforce, which requires the full Snook & Ciriello psychophysical tables, ISO 11228-2, or a qualified ergonomist's assessment accounting for distance, frequency, duration, hand height, and population percentile. For customized calculators tailored to your organization, please contact Impact Tech Solutions.