LIFTING TECHNIQUE AND ABDOMINAL BELT USAGE - A BIOMECHANICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SUBJECTIVE INVESTIGATION

Some 10 male subjects carried out a repetitive lifting task for 15 min under four conditions on separate days. Subjects used either a squat lifting or a stoop lifting technique with or without an abdominal belt on each day. Measurements of spinal shrinkage, heart rate, perceived exertion and regional body pain were made under each condition. Althou gh there was a significant difference in spinal shrinkage under all li fting conditions compared with shrinkage during 15 min of quiet standi ng (4.36 +/- 2.24 vs. 1.13 +/- 1.18 mm), there were no significant dif ferences in shrinkage between the conditions. The subjects' heart rate s were higher during the squat lift than the stoop lift (123 vs. 97 be ats/min; p < 0.001). While the squat lift was perceived to be the safe st lift by 90% of the subjects, 60% regarded this lift as the least pr eferred method (with or without the belt). Although all 10 subjects pe rceived the safest lifting method to involve the use of the bell, 50% rated the belt as their least preferred lifting condition. The finding s cast doubt on the efficacy and acceptability of both abdominal belts and the practice of training workers in 'safe' lifting techniques and indicate that individual characteristics and preferences need to be c onsidered when attempting to improve the safety of manual handling ope rations in industry. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.