DISPLAY ON ALL RELEVANT HSE NOTICEBOARDS

SAFETY BRIEFING NOTE512017

Manual Handling

Background

As we approach the end of the year – I wanted to remind everyone about manual handling. As a business we have found that our manual handling injuries have increased above all other accidents and all incidents. To date accidents have cost the business in excess of £133,000. These simply reminders should assist with these types of injuries. Training is available for anyone that requires or needs it – all you have to do is ask.

Avoiding manual handling injuries

When considering the activity site based risk assessment – remember to:

Check whether you need to move it at all

  • Does a large workpiece really need to be moved, or can the activity be done safely where the item already is?
  • Can raw materials be delivered directly to their point of use?

Think about mechanisation and using handling aids. For example:

  • a pallet truck;
  • an electric or hand-powered hoist;
  • a lift truck

Always conduct your manual handling dynamic risk assessment by assessing following LITE principles:

Load – Is it:
  • heavy or bulky?
  • difficult to grasp?
  • unstable or likely to move unpredictably
  • harmful, eg sharp or hot?
  • too large for the handler to see over?
/ Individual – Are you:
  • Fit to conduct the lift
  • Able to carry the weight of materials
  • Suffering from a pre-existing injury that would
prevent lifting
  • Wearing the correct PPE

Task: have you considered:
  • The route that needs to be taken i.e. opening doors,
  • The distance that it will take
  • How often you need to conduct the task
  • Whether any stooping, reaching high or twisting
can be reduced / Environment – have you checked:
  • Slopes and slippery surfaces
  • Workplace hazards - other people in the way
  • Lighting and heating
  • Space constraints

Good handling technique for lifting

Here are some practical tips, suitable for use in safer manual handling. Remember each person has different capacity for manual work/handling

Think before lifting/handling.

  • Plan the lift. Can handling aids be used? Where is the load going to be placed? Will help be needed with the load? Remove obstructions such as discarded wrapping materials. For a long lift, consider resting the load midway on a table or bench to change grip.
  • Adopt a stable position.

The feet should be apart with one leg slightly forward to maintain balance (alongside the load, if it is on the ground). The employee should be prepared to move their feet during the lift to maintain their stability. Avoid tight clothing or unsuitable footwear, which may make this difficult.

  • Get a good hold. Where possible, the load should be hugged as close as possible to the body. This may be better than gripping it tightly with hands only.
  • Start in a good posture. At the start of the liftface direction of travel, slight bending of the back, head up,hips and knees is preferable to fully flexing the back (stooping) or fully flexing the hips and knees (squatting).
  • Don’t flex the back any further while lifting. This can happen if the legs begin to straighten before starting to raise the load.
  • Keep the load close to the waist. Keep the load close to the body for as long as possible while lifting. Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body. If a close approach to the load is not possible, try to slide it towards the body before attempting to lift it.
  • Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways, especially while the back is bent. Shoulders should be kept level and facing in the same direction as the hips. Turning by moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time.
  • Keep the head up when handling. Look ahead, not down at the load, once it has been held securely.
  • Move smoothly. The load should not be jerked or snatched as this can make it harder to keep control and can increase the risk of injury.
  • Don’t lift or handle more than can be easily managed. There is a difference between what people can lift and what they can safely lift. If in doubt, seek advice or get help – there is no need to struggle on your own or risk hurting yourself.

Allison Connick, MSc, CMIOSH, IIRSM, MRSH, FCMI

National Director of HS&E

Prepared by / Approved by / Issue Date / Alert Ref No / Source / Attachments / Pages
Allison Connick / A Connick, National Director HSE / 15th December 2017 / 512017 / Internal / N/a / 1 of 2