Carrying Load and Related Health Disorders and Disability

If carrying loads is not done correctly, it may cause many disorders and diseases, such as musculoskeletal disorders, which are considered the first cause of disability. The aim of the study is a comparison between two methods of calculating load limits and determining the health effects and disorders of carrying loads.

Two methods were used to examine and calculate the maximum permissible load weight. The first method was introduced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the second was introduced by the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA). The researcher used both methods to determine the maximum load weight and to compare the responses. Health effects were listed in the checklist. The study was descriptive, evaluated, and analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

In the first method, recommended weight lifted (RWL) and lifting index were calculated, and in the second method, the maximum allowable load was calculated. The weight obtained by the first method was smaller than the weight obtained by the second method. Carrying heavy loads resulted in low back pain, discopathy, herniation, high ocular pressure, and osteoarthritis.

The first method is suitable for determining the permissible load limits. In this way, the pressure on the spine is less likely to occur. In general, health disorders and related disabilities were less likely to happen in this situation.