We developed an evidence-based practice guideline to support occupational safety and
health (OSH) professionals in assessing the risk due to lifting and in selecting effective
preventive measures for low back pain (LBP) in the Netherlands. The guideline was
developed at the request of the Dutch government by a project team of experts and OSH
professionals in lifting and work-related LBP. The recommendations for risk assessment
were based on the quality of instruments to assess the risk on LBP due to lifting …

1. Aims Lifting is an activity that is common during work. In a European study on working
conditions, 35% of the employees reported that loads have to be regularly manually lifted or
carried. Moreover, European workers are as exposed to lifting and carrying as they did 10
years ago [1]. In the Dutch National Survey on Working Conditions 2010, 16% of the
employees is of the opinion that preventive measures have to be taken in the workplace to
reduce the physical workload due to lifting [2]. Lifting is most often associated with low back …