As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure your employees are protected from harm or injury caused by manual handling tasks in the workplace. That’s where the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 come in – they state that manual handling precautions apply in all situations, including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying, and in environments from construction and warehousing to bank and offices.
Incorrect manual handling is the main cause of work-related musculoskeletal disorders that account for almost a third of all work related illnesses and injuries. These types of injuries cause lasting damage and can affect your employees’ long term health and ability to work. This not only has a detrimental effect on your employee and their life, but can also lead to costly legal action against you if it can be proven that, as the employer, you did not take the necessary precautions to protect them from harm.
That’s why it’s important to have a thorough understanding of the risk factors that increase the likelihood of injury, things such as exceptionally heavy loads that may require a team of people to move it, animate loads that could be unpredictable and any previous injury or accidents that could be aggravated by manual handling.
Adequate Training
Part of your responsibility is to ensure your employees undergo adequate manual handling training that will allow them to assess situations and carry out their day-to-day tasks safely and adhere to relevant health and safety guidelines.
But it is the individual’s responsibility to closely monitor themselves and be aware when lifting, moving or carrying as injuries received through lack of care and attention is not the fault of the employer.
Here’s a few of the basics that will form part of their manual handling training, to ensure they can take some responsibility for ensuring their own safety:
Is there a better way?
If the task at hand is particularly difficult, or likely to present more of a risk of harm it is essential that the person undertaking the task looks for a better way of completing it. For example:
• If there is a very heavy box that needs lifting from the floor, it may be safer to remove some of the contents to make it lighter and therefore easier and less risky to lift.
• Check to see if there is a tool or trolley that could assist you if the load is awkward, heavy or if it must be taken a long way.
• If you must carry an awkward load check the route for obstacles that could cause a problem to lifting, carrying or lowering the load. It may be the case that you will have to manoeuvre around these, but you maybe able to temporarily remove an obstruction to ensure a clear path.
Store the heaviest things at waist level
You should always try to avoid lifting heavier objects from the floor or very low shelving as the lower the load the more risk of injury when lifting. That’s why it’s advisable to always store the heavier things in the middle as it is easier to grip and lift from waist height, and save the higher and lower shelves for lighter, easier loads.
Good lifting techniques
No matter what you are lifting, you should always use the approved manual handing lifting technique that will help to keep you safe and balanced:
• Get into a good lifting posture, so bend your knees – not your back! Then you can use your stronger leg muscles to lift the load and bear the weight, avoiding potential injury to your back.
• You should always spread your feet in order to give yourself a good stable and supportive base from which to lift.
• Always lift your head first to keep you neck straight as it will automatically cause your back to straighten and it allows you to check nothing has changed around you and, of course, you can see where you are going.
• Lift your load smoothly and try to avoid sudden movements. This way if something is too heavy or you begin to feel excessive strain you can reverse the action and lower the load before it causes serious injury.
• When lifting, keep the load as close to your body as possible as the further away the load is held, the more stress you will feel on your lower back.
Look where you’re going!
Always walk forward when carrying your load, you never know when something unexpected will pop up in your path and you need to be able to respond to it. As such, it’s also essential you check you can see past your load and that if you need to navigate any steps, you must be able to see our feet.
Move your feet
If you need to turn around you should always avoid twisting and especially never twist whilst you are bent over. Make sure you lift your load straight on then stand and straighten up before your step around. If you twist your back and put it under strain you are much more likely to cause an injury.
Health and Safety Training Ltd
Health and Safety Training Ltd provide NPORS Manual Handling Training that adheres fully to the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and can be tailored to reflect the particular requirements of any unusual or individual environment.
The course is simple and takes just half a day to complete but will leave all learners with a thorough understanding of the safety precautions they must take and will ensure that, as an employer, you have fulfilled your obligations to provide adequate training.
Health and Safety Training Ltd
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