The effect of manual handling training on transferring knowledge, employee s behaviour change and subsequent reduction of work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review

This systematic review investigated the effectiveness of manual handling training at transferring knowledge, leading to a positive change in employee’s manual handling behaviour and a reduction of WRMSDs following training. Six electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials or cohort studies with a control and/or comparison group which investigated the effectiveness of manual handling training. Thirteen articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following quality assessment, nine of the included articles were found to be high quality. This systematic review suggests that there has been very little research focusing on the effectiveness of manual handling training on transferring knowledge to employee’s and behavioural change. This review indicates that whilst employees report understanding and awareness following training, this does not always lead to the expected behavioural change. This review also suggests it cannot be demonstrated that transferring knowledge to employees will lead to a reduction of WRMSDs.