Before you cram that extra pair of shoes into your suitcase, spare a thought for the baggage handlers who have suffered so many strains and injuries that airport operator BAA is reducing the weight limit for individual pieces of luggage in a bid to save their aching backs.

After 1 June passengers at Heathrow will only be able to check in bags weighing 32kg each or less, but the limit is on individual bags and does not affect the overall weight allowance specified by the airline. Passengers can still take the same weight of luggage, but it must be distributed over a number of bags.

An average-sized suitcase weighs around 20kg when full, but baggage handlers have sometimes had to lift bags weighing 70kg. Repeating the action all day and every day can spell disaster for their health.

The Government's Health and Safety Executive identifies repetitive and heavy lifting as one of the main risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders, which are the most common occupational illness in the UK, affecting 1.1 million people a year. Christine Barringer of the HSE said the organisation supported the move, and added: 'Manual handling injuries account for around 40 per cent of total airport injuries reported to the HSE, the majority of these are related to baggage handling.'

British Airways introduced the 32kg regulation a year ago and has noticed a 17 per cent reduction in the number of injuries to baggage handlers.

Travellers are urged to weigh their bags before they reach the airport to avoid disruption to procedures and the annoyance of having to repack their suitcase in the middle of the airport. Mick Temple, managing director of Heathrow Airport, said: 'Up to 32kg is still an ample sized hold-all, so the majority of passengers should not need to adjust the way they pack. We know our passengers would not want airport workers to be hurt by bags that are simply too heavy for anyone to lift without special arrangements.'