Background: This article describes the main features of the background and the methodology of a reanalysis of the data from the German Spine Study (EPILIFT) in the so-called EPILIFT Exposure Criteria Study (EPILIFT 2) and shows selected results only. In order to assess the work-related presuppositions in procedures with regard to occupational disease no. 2108, dose approaches were applied where the load on the spine was accumulated for all relevant actions combined with specified postures or handling of objects over typical working shifts and the occupational life. In the EPILIFT study increased risks for the development of disc-related diseases were found for every case group (males and females with prolapse or chondrosis) when dose models were applied which also included loading actions lower than the criteria of the Mainz-Dortmund Dose Model (MDD) currently in use and considered additional handling types other than lifting and carrying. Material and methods: The EPILIFT data were reanalyzed based on continuous dose values instead of categorized ones. The currently accepted concept of a squared weighting of disc compressive force related to action duration was tested with respect to the goodness of fit and compared to a linear weighting approach. The currently accepted concept of considering the total amount of the disc compressive force of relevant actions for dose accumulation was tested with respect to the goodness of fit and compared to two approaches which included threshold exceeding forces only. In total, 30 models in five different model groups were defined when model properties were varied separately: thresholds of disc compressive force evaluating handling of objects, angle of trunk forward-inclination evaluating postures, daily dose and the optional consideration of handling modes other than lifting and carrying. All models were tested with regard to goodness of fit. Results: Both concepts, a squared force weighting and considering the total force, showed a higher goodness of fit; in consequence, both approaches were applied in the subsequent analyses of EPILIFT 2. Based on the best-fitting dose models in the respective model groups, combination models joining the optimal thresholds for compressive force, trunk inclination and shift dose were defined specifically for the different case groups and utilized for the identification of the dose doubling the risk for lumbar disc-related diseases. Conclusion: Due to the overview character of this article, for explanations of the complex methods and manifold results reference should be made to the corresponding articles in this and the next special edition.