ABSTRACT
In industrialized as well as in developing countries the machinery sector is an important part of the engineering industry and may be one of the industrial mainstays of the economy. However, social costs arise from accidents or sick leave caused directly by hazardous machinery operations. Manual handling of machinery or components parts of machinery can lead to a high risk of injury to the musculoskeletal system if the loads to be handled are too heavy, or handled at high frequencies for long durations or in awkward postures. Manually applied effort is often required by operators working with machines for their intended purpose. Risks exist if the design of the machinery is not in accordance with ergonomic design principles.
