The influence of experience on manual materials handling and its implications for training: a systematic literature review

Manual handling is recognised as a major cause of work-related back injuries. Although widely implemented, manual handling training programmes appear to have had limited success in reducing these injuries. This may stem from the inadequacy of training programmes and/or their inability to accommodate variations in task, workplace, and worker. Designing training programmes based on the techniques of experienced workers may provide an effective approach for injury prevention, although the differences in strategies adopted by experienced and novice workers are not well documented. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to investigate variations in handling techniques and musculoskeletal risk factors observed between experienced and novices when performing manual handling tasks. Twenty three articles met the inclusion criteria of this review. Studies incorporated a range of outcome measures, including kinematic and kinetic variables (e.g. back moments, spinal compression forces, trunk velocities, static strength, postural deviations, hand positions, trunk stability), muscle activity (EMG), muscle oxygenation and maximum acceptable weight of lift. The majority of studies (n=16) evaluated differences in box handling techniques between experts and novices. Other tasks compared included: pushing and pulling; isometric lifting strength, patient transfers; sheep shearing and wool handling. Conflicting findings were found when comparing spinal compression and shear forces, and lumbar moments of novices and experts. In the majority of studies, footwork, load manoeuvring, handgrip and body posture often differentiated experts from novices. One study reported increased levels of low back muscle oxygenation in novices when compared to expert handlers, suggesting more efficient motor strategies adopted by the experienced workers.