Lifting and Carrying Assessment (TILDA)
What is the Manual Lifting and Carrying Assessment (TILDA)?
The TILDA is a tool to evaluate the physical demands involved in manual lifting and carrying tasks. It provides a practical application of the assessment steps from the international standard NEN-ISO 11228-1:2021, “Ergonomics – Manual handling – Part 1: Lifting, lowering and carrying.” One of the assessment steps includes a single task NIOSH lift evaluation.
For lifting tasks that TILDA rates as “increased risk of physical complaints,” reference is made to more complex expert assessment methods from NEN-ISO 11228-1:2021.
TILDA provides insights into:
- the potential risks of lifting and carrying tasks in relation to physical complaints;
- factors that contribute to risk, such as lifting frequency, posture, and load weight;
- solutions to reduce or eliminate risks.
The results are useful for drawing up an action plan. The assessment is carried out per task and applies to the group of employees performing the task. It is not an assessment per individual, job, or workday. Important: if work involves several higher risk tasks per day, consult an expert in physical load.
Why use TILDA?
Manual lifting and carrying put considerable strain on the body, especially the back and shoulders. Heavy loads, frequent lifting and carrying, and/or unfavorable task characteristics—such as pick-up and placement heights and the horizontal distance between the load and the body—can lead to overexertion and thus to physical complaints. It is therefore important to monitor these factors carefully and make adjustments where necessary. Depending on the situation, consider reducing the weight of the load, improving task characteristics, or, if possible, deploying aids.
According to occupational health legislation, employers must include lifting and carrying risks in their Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E) and, in case of high risk, in their action plan. If physical load is only generally addressed in the RI&E, TILDA can be used for a more detailed analysis.
For what situations is TILDA intended?
TILDA was developed to assess manual lifting and carrying tasks where no lifting aids or exoskeletons are used. It does not cover situations where objects are held for extended periods without being moved.
The method is suitable for adult employees aged 18–67, in all sectors and industries.
Examples of lifting and carrying tasks include:
- manually lifting and carrying products and boxes in warehouses;
- lifting materials on construction sites;
- lifting products or tools in production environments.
Who can use TILDA?
TILDA is intended for anyone responsible for working conditions, such as prevention officers, occupational health coordinators, HR professionals, or—in smaller organizations—the managing director. The method requires no specific prior knowledge. Occupational health experts, ergonomists, industrial hygienists, and safety specialists can also use the tool.
How does TILDA work?
The risk assessment is conducted through a step-by-step questionnaire. To answer the questions, you need the following information about the work situation during lifting and/or carrying:
- weights of the loads;
- average frequency of lifting and carrying actions;
- pick-up and placement locations, height, and horizontal distance from the body;
- body postures during picking up, placing, and carrying (trunk rotation);
- work environment characteristics (climate, surface, limited space);
- load characteristics (size, stability, coupling);
- lifting with one hand and/or with multiple people.
Tips before starting:
- go through TILDA before collecting data so you know which questions will be asked;
- try to understand the variation in load weights and task characteristics by collecting data from different employees and on different days;
- consider conducting the assessment together, especially the first time, so you can discuss answers;
- involve the employees concerned in answering the questions. This generally leads to better results.
Acknowledgment
TILDA was developed by TNO on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and in collaboration with a group of experts.