Is our work still fun because of the hard work? Do we still enjoy our work? According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, there is no fixed limit for how much you can lift. The work must be safe and must not pose health risks.
This is the employer’s responsibility; he must reduce the risks. ZZP’ers pay the bill themselves and can no longer perform their work if the lifting is no longer bearable. Ultimately, you pay the bill yourself, and that bill falls heavily on you: After all, not only do you suffer from your back between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays…
Lifting and carrying should be included in the workplace risk plan. If the work is dangerous or unbearable, measures should be taken to prevent it.
The European standard NEN-EN 1005-2 and the international standard NEN-ISO 11228-1:2021 and 288414 provide guidelines on what constitutes safe lifting. This standard is intended for employers, employees and people who organize work activities.
In addition, they often use the NIOSH method to calculate how much you can safely lift. This depends on factors such as weight, how often you lift, the distance you move, and how high you lift. The upper limit is usually 23 pounds under ideal conditions, but this may be lower if the situation is not perfect. Sporadically two people may lift 50 kg, but this should be avoided as much as possible.
The lifting standard is an upper limit. If at all possible, do not lift or move loads by hand and use a lifting aid.
