Manual handling of loads: the point of view of experts involved in the application of EC Directive 90/269.

This paper illustrates the viewpoint of a group of Italian research workers who have been directly involved in providing criteria and guidelines for application of EC Directive 90/269, Manual handling of loads. The problems posed by application of the Directive in Italy and which are mainly related to exposure assessment, health surveillance and risk management (work and workplace redesign) are thoroughly examined. Major questions still to be solved include defining methods for assessment of multiple and complex load handling tasks, identifying data sources on 'health effect' trends as investigated in a working population with low exposure or in the general population in order to fix action levels, and setting up a data bank of technical and organizational solutions and products accessible to experts and users.