Manual handling and ergonomics: lifting pulling and pushing according to Working Environment rules

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common work injuries in the warehouse and logistics industry. It rarely happens as one dramatic event, but as a slow wear and tear on the back, shoulders and knees through thousands of lifts, pulls and pushes over the years. Therefore, manual handling is not just a matter of being strong — it is a professional issue with clear rules that you must know and use every day.

The Labour Authority's AT guidance on the ergonomic working environment (VEJ no. 10133 of 01/10/2026; it replaced D.3.1 «Lifting, pulling and pushing») covers all handling of loads that are wholly or partly performed with muscle power — lifting, tipping, carrying, supporting, pushing, pulling, loading and shovelling. The guidance does not include handling of persons or living animals, which is instead covered in the same guidance's section on transferring. In a warehouse it is essentially everything you do with your hands: from lifting a box down from a shelf to pushing a dolly through the packing area.

There is no single fixed number of kilos in the law that decides whether a lift is dangerous. The risk must be assessed as a whole: the weight of the load, how often you lift, how far from the body the load is held, the working posture and the floor all play a part. The AT guideline on the ergonomic working environment (VEJ no. 10133 of 01/10/2026) does, however, give some fixed reference points from the Danish Working Environment Authority's practice:

• 01Reach distance: Lifts further out than 3/4 arm's length will normally involve a risk of injury and should always be assessed separately.
• 02Carrying over more than approx. 2 m: Action must be taken if you carry more than approx. 20 kg close to the body, approx. 12 kg at forearm distance or approx. 6 kg at 3/4 arm's length.
• 03Two persons: The load may be at most approx. 70 % of what each person could lift alone. So two persons may lift at most 42 kg at forearm distance — and only under fully optimal conditions.
• 04The whole day: Action must be taken if the total weight per person per day exceeds approx. 10 tonnes close to the body, approx. 6 tonnes at forearm distance or approx. 3 tonnes at 3/4 arm's length.
• 05Pushing and pulling: On a slope of e.g. 1:4, a total weight of 40 kg can be critical.

• 01Train and educate you in how the work is carried out safely.
• 02So far as possible inform yourself about the weight of what you need to lift push or pull.
• 03Provide suitable technical aids where possible.
• 04Arrange the work so heavy or frequent lifting is avoided or made as easy as possible.
• 05Include manual handling in the company's workplace assessment (APV).

• 01Stand with good foot position close to the load before you lift.
• 02Bend at the knees and keep your back as straight as possible — let your legs do the work.
• 03Keep the load close to your body instead of with outstretched arms.
• 04Avoid twisting the back during the lift—turn with your feet if you need to change direction.
• 05Ask for help or use an aid for heavy or awkward loads.

Pallet jacks, trucks, hand trolleys, conveyor belts and electric hoists exist because they move the load from your body to a machine. Choosing the aid instead of forcing your body is not a sign that you can't handle the job — it's a workplace law and it's the professional way to work in a modern warehouse. Make sure the aids are maintained and suitable for the job, and use them consistently, even when a job 'only takes two minutes'.

Manual handling is a fixed part of every single shift in a warehouse. When you know the rules use the right techniques and grab an aid instead of straining your back you protect your own body throughout a working life — and it is just as much a professional competence as being able to pack a pallet correctly.