loads carrying

SWISS LAW

According to the comments of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) on Section 4 of Ordinance 3 (OLT 3) of the Labor Law (LTr), the employer must provide appropriate means for lifting, carrying and moving heavy or cumbersome loads. Workers must also be informed of the risks involved in carrying loads, and of the correct way of doing so.

A FEW NUMBERS

According to Suva, 30% of employees move heavy loads every day. Moreover, carrying loads is one of the main health and safety hazards in the workplace. In Switzerland in 2017, 45% of professionally active people were exposed to a combination of at least 3 physical risks at work, of which carrying loads is one.

LOADS

The maximum weight of loads moved occasionally should be 25 kg for men and 15 kg for women. If this is to become a regular occurrence, i.e. more than 4 times an hour, the maximum weight of the load should be 12 kg for men and 7 kg for women. There are legal provisions concerning maternity protection, which stipulate that a pregnant woman up to 6 months of age must not move a load weighing more than 10 kg occasionally and 5 kg regularly. From the 7th month of pregnancy, she must no longer carry heavy loads.