MANUAL HANDLING 

Manual handling means transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. It includes:

 Lifting

·        Putting down

·        Pushing

·        Pulling

·        Carrying

·        Moving loads

A load can be an object, person or animal.

Risks of manual handling

·        Lifting and moving loads manually is one of the most common causes of injury at work.

·        There is no truly ‘safe’ weight limit for manual handling operations so try to find alternatives.

·        Manual handling injuries make up

·        approximately 10% of total injuries

·        occurring in Department workplaces.

Work related musculoskeletal disorders can occur as a result of:

·        Repeated damage or strain

·        A single case of overburdening

WMSD may include injuries to:

·        Muscles

·        Ligaments

·        Intervertebral disc

·        Nerves

·        Tendons in the wrist, arms, shoulders, neck or legs

Spinal Cord Injuries:

The spine in its normal S-curve shape is very flexible, but is easily affected by movements which are: forceful, awkward, asymmetrical and or jerky, especially if the back is bent or twisted while moving. 

Carrying a large or heavy load while the back is not in its normal S-curve shape puts much more strain on the discs between the vertebrae.

When does it becomes hazardous

TASK

Too Strenuous

Awkward Postures

INDIVIDUAL

Individual Physical Capacity

Training & Supervision

LOAD

Too Heavy

Too Large

ENVIRONMENT

Climate (heat / cold, ventilation etc.)

Available Space

What do you have to do?

IDENTIFY MANUAL HANDLING TASKS

Talk to colleagues

Conduct a walk through the workplace

ASSESS THE LEVEL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE TASK

Document manual handling in the OHS Risk Register

Complete risk assessment where the tasks or level of risk is uncertain

IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT  CONTROLS

Talk to colleagues undertaking task

Implement risk controls

Document risk controls

Report all manual handling incidents.


Manual handling of people

No lift policy is best, use equipment and the student’s own ability to avoid unnecessary manual handling.  Always follow Behaviour Support Plans for individuals who cannot assist with their own movement.

Sources of Information

·        Internal Sources

·        Employees

·        Workers Representatives

·        Supervisors

·        Health and Safety Officers

·        Risk assessment, inspection and maintenance records

·        Training records, audit reports,

·        Attitude surveys, near miss reports,

·        Health surveillance and environmental monitoring data.

·        Reactive documentation would include accident investigation reports.

·        Accident/ill-health and absence data.

·        Actions taken by the enforcing authorities.

·        Civil and/or insurance claims.

External Sources

Enforcement agencies

Health and safety consultants

Lawyers and professional bodies such as IOSH

Equipment manufacturers

Trade associations.

National laws,

International standards such as ILO,

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Click here to download the Power Point Slides 

Manual Handling Power point slides including Training material , procedures techniques and guidelines. This training material including risk assessment and Examples.