Manual handling techniques: Comparing novices and experts

The purpose of this study was to compare the techniques used by six expert handlers and six novices during a free handling task. Each subject had to transfer three sets of 16 boxes from a platform to a four-wheel cart. The observations dealt with the position of the subject at the beginning of transfer and at deposit (position of the back, knees and feet, pelvic orientation, position of the hands), his way of moving during the transfer (position of the feet) and his way of positioning and moving the box during handling (tilt). The results show that the expert handlers chose handling techniques rather different than those of the novices, particularly with regard to the position of the knees, feet and pelvis, the location of the grip, the movement of the feet during transfer, and the position of the box during handling. The study suggests that the strategies adopted by the experts would improve balance, and permit better control of the load and more efficient use of box momentum during transfer.