Factsheet 73 - Hazards and risks associated with manual handling of loads in the workplace

Manual handling of loads (MHL) is any of the following activities carried out by one or more workers: lifting, holding, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving of a load. The load can be animate (a person or animal) or inanimate (an object). Though decreasing lately, the rate of workers in the EU-25 that report carrying or moving heavy loads, is still high (34.5 %), reaching 38.0 % in the EU-10.