Manual Handling of Loads is one of the most frequent activities in the professional field.
What does Manual Handling of Loads means?
Manual Handling of Loads includes any action of lifting, moving, pushing, pulling a heavy animate (person, animal) or inanimate (object) load.
In Europe, more than 30% of workers perform handling activities. 40% of men are employed in construction, building sites, road maintenance, 20% of women are involved in healthcare and patient handling.
What does the Italian legislation for Manual Handling of Loads say about it?
Legislative Decree 81/08, the Consolidation Act on Health and Safety at Work, under Title VI provides a special section on the subject. Art. 167 sets out the fields of application; Art. 168 the employer’s obligations; Art. 169 refers to Attachment XXXIII and then to information, education and training; Art. 170-171 sanctions against the employer and the manager for violations of Art. 168/169.
The aforementioned Attachment XXXIII, with specific reference to the ISO 11228 technical standards (parts 1-2-3), clarifies and regulates the reference elements for a correct risk assessment.
What problems are caused by Manual Handling of Loads?
Manual handling of loads can cause Musculo-Skeletal Disorders as a result of trauma and injuries or from continuous and repeated operations.
The risk factors are many in terms of human, business and social costs. The issue must be addressed in terms of assessment but also in terms of implementing preventive measures and worker protection. In particular, 4 fundamental aspects of the operational context must be taken into account:
- the load (too heavy, too large, difficult to grasp, unstable or unbalanced, difficult to reach);
- the work activity (exhausting tasks, incorrect postures, repetitive operations);
- the environment (insufficient space, uneven flooring, excessive heat, poor lighting)
- the worker (lack of experience, age, physical characteristics, previous illnesses).
How much do musculoskeletal disorders affect work?
Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work-related health problem in Europe. In the European Union, a quarter of workers complain of back pain and almost a quarter suffer from muscular pains.
Musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause for concern: they affect the health of individual workers, increase the business and social costs of European companies and countries, disrupt work rhythms, reduce productivity and can be a cause of sick leave and permanent occupational disability.
What preventive measures are recommended?
The applicable preventive measures are different and have their own hierarchy:
- elimination: assess whether Manual Handling can be avoided, for example by using automatic or mechanical handling equipment such as conveyor belts or forklift trucks;
- technical measures: if Manual Handling cannot be avoided, consider using support devices such as hoists, trolleys and vacuum lifting systems;
- organisational measures: such as job rotation and the introduction of intervals of sufficient duration. Such measures should only be evaluated if risks from manual handling cannot be eliminated or reduced;
- Information: on the risks and adverse health effects of Manual Handling;
- Exercises: in the use of correct handling equipment and techniques.
To completely eliminate the risks due to Manual Handling of Loads ‘all manual lifting and/or carrying operations by workers should be replaced by mechanical and automated operations’.
Obviously, this condition is not always feasible.
What can be done to reduce risks?
Observing the risk assessment criteria for work activities involving the Manual Handling of Loads leads to an understanding of what short, medium or long-term measures should be implemented according to the estimated degree of risk.
The individual and/or collective protective equipment, the correct movement of the body during the tasks to be performed must be well estimated according to the specific needs.
