ABSTRACT
Numerous attempts have been made to train material handlers to do their work in a safe manner. Unfortunately, hopes for significant and lasting reductions of overexertion injuries after training in safe lifting have been generally disappointed. The purpose of training can be specialized or general. Special topics may be related to one or just a few activities, for example, lifting bulky boxes or handling patients in a hospital. One of the problems in training for safe load handling is that broad generalizations concerning material handling tasks across all work environments may not be possible. Given the scarcity of information, hardly any training guidelines are well supported by controlled research. Female employees are predominant in certain industries or occupations; this can influence training because, as a group, women are about two- thirds as strong as men. Objects, tasks, activities, and material handlers are probably quite different in each, and accordingly different training goals and techniques must be employed.
