In certain situations, excessive physical strain may occur, which can result in injury. Overloading can be caused by lifting a load that is too heavy once or by being exposed to a relatively low load for a longer period of time.

The Working Conditions Act does not have any specific requirements about how much an employee can lift or carry. What the law does say is that the work must not pose any risks to the safety and health of the employee. That is why this subject must be included in the risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E). The action plan includes the measures, including who is responsible for implementing the measures, when the measures apply and when all measures must be implemented.

In this toolbox you can read which rules apply to lifting and carrying within Unica.

Overload cause damage to parts of the back. The movements of the spine (twisting, bending, stretching, etc.) are caused by the action of the muscles. An overload of the back can be caused by too much static and/or dynamic load on the muscles.

We speak of static load on muscles when someone has to maintain one particular position for a longer period of time. A too high static load can lead to back disorders as a result of:

1. Obstruction of the blood supply due to the tightening of the same muscles for a longer period of time;
2. Keeping the joints in the same position.
   

There is dynamic strain on the muscles when the body is in motion. Examples include lifting or moving loads. Most of the actions that a person performs involve a combination of static and dynamic load. For example painting the ceiling or lifting and moving a heavy object.

Overload of the back can lead to different types of back disorders:

1. Muscle pain (overuse of the long back muscles);
2. Wear and tear (osteoarthritis) of the intervertebral joints;
3. Sciatica or lumbago, whether or not in combination with a hernia. In a herniated disc, the intervertebral disc (discus) is damaged, causing the soft nucleus of the disc to bulge and press against the nerve;
4. Overloading the back can cause back pain with radiation to the buttock or thigh;
5. Pain can cause unbalanced loads on the muscles. This can result in stiffness of the back, which makes it harder for a person to function.

In the RI&E, we have described the following measures:

1. Use mechanical aids as much as possible;
2. Avoid manual lifting as much as possible;
3. Lift from the knees and not from the back, lift as little as possible in a bent over position and avoid twisting the back while lifting;
4. Do not lift more than 23 kg per person;
5. Use correct PPE such as safety shoes and work gloves.

The NIOSH method is a way to calculate how much an employee is allowed to lift in a certain situation without incurring health risks. This is not a mandatory method, but the Dutch Labour Inspectorate (NLA) does use the method.

In addition to the lifting weight, the lifting situation is also examined, such as how often the load is lifted, the distance of the movement and the lifting height to the floor. Based on this data, the recommended maximum lifting weight is calculated. Under ideal conditions (e.g. good health of the person, but also that the load is directly in front of the person) this is a maximum of 23 kilos. In conditions that are not ideal, that weight is lower.

How do you run even less risk?

1. Keeps the weight as close to the body as possible;
2. Make sure the body is balanced;
3. The load should rest on both palms and not on the fingertips;
4. The lifting path should preferably be between hip and elbow height. And otherwise between knee and shoulder height;
5. Limit the distance as much as possible;
6. Try to estimate the weight to be lifted as well as possible in advance;
7. In the case of heavy physical work, it is better to take short breaks more often than a single (long) one;
8. Is something too heavy or very awkward in shape? Then ask for help or walk twice.

Discuss the following:

1. I listen to my body;
2. I use mechanical aids as much as possible to lift or carry the load.

You are the first to discover that something is going wrong, or could go wrong with your back. Listen carefully to the signals that the body gives you. Don't force yourself, change positions regularly and take breaks on time.

Below is the link to calculate the maximum lifting weight:
NIOSH method