An ergonomic assessment of the airline baggage handler

493.6 Back Belt LiteratureThe notion that one should use back support belts during material handling is not anuncommon one. Many people while performing everyday tasks related to lifting, i.e.working out, or moving furniture etc, use back belts with full confidence that this practiceserves as a proactive support towards maintaining a healthy back. Little might they knowthat the use of back support belts may not be as good for you as the promotional literatureon the back support belt may lead you to believe. Scientific literature on the back supportbelt is still weighing in on whether or not this practice does more good than harm.For the baggage handler, not many studies have been published that focus on thepros and cons about wearing back support belts, and definitively, and establishing thecase for benefits or determent of the use of the belt. There is one study that focusedparticularly on baggage handlers provided some insight on the subject. This article is"An Evaluation of a Weightlifting Belt and Back Injury Prevention Training Class forAirline Baggage Handlers" (Reddell et al., 1992), and is still relevant today.3.6.1 History of Industrial Back BeltsBack injury is one of the leading causes of on the job injuries per year according to thebureau of Labor statistics. It is estimated that there are at least 1 million back injuryclaims every year in the U.S. Moreover, it is believed that more than half the workingpopulation would have experienced back injury sometime during their working careers(NIOSH, 1994).In the mid seventies, the National Safety Council found that over 54% of thebaggage handlers claim towards back pain could be attributed to baggage and cargohandling (Reddell et al., 1992).