Lifting and Carrying (Manual materials Handling)


Problem:

Workers who install wood, metal or engineered floor and ceiling beams may face hazards from lifting and carrying (manual materials handling).


Risk Description:

Lifting heavy materials during the installation of wood, metal or engineered floor and ceiling beams can cause injury to muscles, nerves, discs and ligaments of the low back.  Non-specific low back pain is not the result of a fall or some other acute traumatic injury, so it can be difficult to identify a specific event that led to the injury.  Repetitive lifting can lead to low back strain, ligament sprain, a bulging or herniated disc, or other back problems.


Assessment Info:

Liberty Mutual  has published tables on their website that can be helpful in determining maximum acceptable weight limits for lifting and carrying tasks along with suggested solutions for minimizing the risk of injury from lifting or carrying.  Washington State LNI also has some useful tables that can help determine weight limits.