Many employees in the wholesale distribution industry spend significant amounts of time loading and unloading items and lifting heavy materials. According to the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, this manual handling, and the twisting and turning that occur when they perform these tasks, can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or cumulative disorders (CTDs), such as injuries to the back, shoulder and neck. The cumulative effect of even minor injuries of this nature can become more pronounced over time.

Standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time can also lead to injuries, all of which can result in serious medical claims and lost productivity for employers.

Click here to continue reading about the financial toll this can take on your business, steps to minimize risks, ways to help employees, steps to preventing back problems, lifting techniques and overall safety.