What term describes the transporting or supporting of a load by lifting, pushing, pulling, or moving?

The term that describes the transporting or supporting of a load by lifting, pushing, pulling, or moving is manual handling. This encompasses a variety of activities where individuals need to manipulate objects, using their body to manage the load. Proper manual handling is crucial for ensuring safety and preventing injuries, as it involves techniques that reduce stress on the body when moving or handling items.

In contrast, material handling refers to the broader category of movement and storage of materials in a facility, which includes both manual and mechanical methods but is not limited to just human effort. While loading indicates the act of placing items into transportation systems or containers, it doesn’t capture the entire scope of the physical actions performed in moving items. Equipment management, on the other hand, pertains to overseeing tools and devices used in various tasks rather than the physical handling of loads. Thus, manual handling is the most accurate term for the activities described in the question.