Decrease in Baggage Limits for Preventing Injuries to Baggage Handlers
The maximum baggage limit for people travelling in aircrafts is being lowered in the
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Aviation Industry Committee have supported this move.
Thompsons, that runs a holiday charter service, has already decreased the baggage limit to 23 kg for all passengers using its services. Various other airlines are also taking steps towards the same. However, a few of them are not ready to introduce a lesser baggage limit unless there is a concerted move in the industry. Unite has also asked HSE to make rules regarding baggage limit stricter.
Unite national officer Steve Turner has stated that a number of people do not realise that baggage is handled manually. In fact, baggage handlers have to pick up the same bags many times for a particular flight. Statistics show that on an average, a baggage handler lifts weight equivalent to that of an elephant daily, that is, close to 9 tonnes of weight in every shift.
A new research by HSE on musculoskeletal problems that are faced by baggage handlers has indicated that nearly three-fourths of these workers have had some problems with their lower back in the last twelve weeks, and around one-half of them have had issues with their knees. Another two-fifth of the workers had shoulder problems. Unite is of the opinion that there is a much greater chance for a baggage handler to get a musculoskeletal problem than for any other
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