Manual handling operations risk assessment

The Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) constitute the largest category of work-related illness in developed and developing countries, and are a major source of pain, disability, restricted activity, lost work days, reduced productivity, and costs to industry and the public service. On the other hand, manual handling may be regarded as a major cause of injury and ill-health in the workplace. This paper presents the results of a study conducted by the authors on the manual handling operations in a manufacturing and retailing organizations in Mexico City. The approach has been the application of the Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC) developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK. The MAC is a tool that is intended to help to assess the most common risk factors in lifting, carrying and team handling operations. More research is needed, for example, by applying the MAC tool to other Mexican industrial sectors such as the construction, goods and services, etc. It is hoped that by conducting such studies illness related to MSD may be prevented.