Case Studies - Handling Baggage at Airports

At airports, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are responsible for 40% of all personal injury incidents reported to HSE, the majority of which involve ground crew. The loading and unloading of passenger bags, particularly on narrow-bodied aircraft, has been identified as a high risk operation for MSD. The industry, HSE, and other European enforcement agencies are, therefore, keen to address this issue.

A variety of methods are used to load and unload narrow-bodied aircraft. HSE field intelligence found that many risk assessments concentrated on the height of the aircraft sill to decide the work method, and did not always adequately identify all the risk factors.

In association with one of HSE’s specialist inspectors, HSL has re-examined the MSD risk factors present during loading and unloading of Boeing 737 series aircraft. The study looked particularly at the ramp-based baggage handling operation. External handling of baggage between carts and the aircraft, with and without the use of conveyors, was studied, as well as the manual packing and unpacking of the baggage within the aircraft hold.

The highest risk elements were associated with the in-hold tasks, especially the stacking of bags during the on-load operation. These tasks are conducted in confined spaces, often with only around one metre of headroom. Repetitive handling of bags while kneeling and with the hands at a distance from the low back were the main high risk elements. Opinion in the scientific literature is mixed on whether it is better to handle bags while standing stooped, sitting, or kneeling in such circumstances. HSL’s review suggests that handling while kneeling for short periods inside the hold is preferable.

For external baggage handling, the use of a conveyor was found to lower the risk compared with not using one. Unloading baggage on to flat bed lorries with a handler standing in the hold doorway an loading direct to high hold doorways presented a high risk of injury. In some cases equipment and baggage carts had to be pulled and pushed into position manually, exposing staff to associated risks.

A number of immediate risk reduction measures have been proposed. These include the use of conveyors for all baggage on/off-loading operations, rotation of workers to other tasks and improved labelling of bag weights.

In the longer-term, recommendations for risk reduction include reducing the individual baggage item weight limit base on robust research, establishing an industry forum to identify and review handling equipment and methods, and passenger education. The aviation industry has recently adopted a voluntary 32kg single bag weight limit, which has led to an encouraging reduction in MSD injuries. However, a further reduction in item weight is recommended.

This project has provided useful information to both HSE and the industry, via the Revitalising Health and Safety in Air Transport (RHSAT) Group, on the choice of work methods to ensure that risks from baggage handling are reduced as far as is reasonably practicable.

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