Level of knowledge concerning safety and health protection for employees when handling heavy loads

Status:

completed 12/1994

Aims:

Handling heavy loads leads to a risk of spinal damage. For this reason spinal disorders were included under illness nos. 2108 and 2109 in the list of occupational illnesses. A unified, secure basis and methodology are urgently required for the assessment of occupational strain and the risk resulting from this. Goal: compilation, assessment and evaluation of the relevant literature.

Activities/Methods:

Literature study

Results:

The "guideline for the assessment of lifting and carrying work" contains a compilation and systematic analysis of epidemiological studies and relevant regulatory works as well as a compilation, explanation and assessment of measuring and assessment procedures. Risk analyses should be the starting point for preventive measures. The risk should be determined on the basis of strain and demand parameters and comparison with limit values. As well as bio-mechanical effects (spinal strain) risk analysis must also include effects on organs and bodily functions e.g. with physiological criteria such as metabolic rate while working, intra-abdominal pressure, pulse frequency during work, stamina, maximum strength etc. Furthermore, subjective assessment and epidemiological results should be brought in as criteria.

Publications:

Leitfaden für die Beurteilung von Hebe- und Tragetätigkeiten (PDF, 11.8 MB, non-accessible) . Hrsg.: Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften, Sankt Augustin 1995 (in German)

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