The results of the SUMER survey recently released by  DARES, an organization accountable to the French Ministry of Labour, have shown that manual handling of loads has become a growing concern in France. The survey reveils that at some point, 40 % of the employees are required to handle loads at the workplace. Manual workers from the building sector are particularly exposed: 50% of these workers have to handle loads for at least two hours per week. The other workers confronted with the same type of work come especially from the industry and agriculture. Obviously, considering the nature of the work, men are more at risk than women. The situation is particularly worrying for the part-time workers in the building sector where 31% of workers handle loads for at least 20 hours per  week.

The handling of loads causes lumbar pains, sciatic and other musculoskeletal disorders.

The latest SUMER survey was carried out in 2002-2003 with the collaboration of 1,800 company doctors and of  50,000 employees who were interviewed. The survey attempts to describe the occupational risks present at the workplace in France.

• Read the survey data (FR)