The Risks of Manual Handling
Manual handling activities can present the risk of injuries such as strains, musculoskeletal disorders and other injuries. The risk of injury increases when hazardous manual handling tasks are repetitive, awkward or involve moving particularly heavy loads.
5 Principles of Manual Handling
It is not always possible to avoid manual handling activities and tasks. Alongside comprehensive manual handling training, risk assessment procedures and the use of supporting equipment, the following five key principles can be used to reduce the risk of manual handling injury.
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Plan
Before undertaking manual handling (whether that's lifting, pushing or pulling a load), ensure that your path is clear. Check for obstructions and ensure there are no trip hazards or slip risks.
When planning a movement, it's important to assess if the task is feasible. Staff should avoid moving heavy loads that exceed their abilities, and instead, use a supporting handling aid such as an electric tug, pallet truck or other material handling equipment.
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Position
When making a movement it is important to establish a good posture and position. Centre your body and feet correctly, keeping your feet apart for maximum stability.
Avoid twisting and do not bend your back or lean forward. Awkward posture or incorrect positioning can increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury and put excess stress on your back. After establishing a stable position, ensure that you firmly grip the load being moved.
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Pick
Again, this involves maintaining a good posture. When lifting a load, keep the load close to your body and use your legs to lift it - making sure not to strain your back.
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Proceed
Keep the load close to your body during movement to reduce the risk of bending or straining your back. Whether you are lifting an item or pushing a wheeled load, keep your head and spine upright and avoid twisting.
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Place
When you lower an object after lifting, bend your knees and use your leg muscles to lower the load. Smooth movements are essential to preventing strains or injury.
Manual Handling Tasks - Pushing and Pulling
When people think of manual handling, they often think of lifting tasks.
However, manual handling also covers activities like moving heavy-wheeled loads, so it’s important to remember that pushing and pulling loads can also result in the risk of injury.
Across a range of manual handling operations and tasks, supporting mechanical aids and handling equipment such as lifting equipment and electric tugs can be used to reduce the risk of workplace injuries and facilitate safe moving and handling of loads.
Understanding Manual Handling Legislation & Work Regulations
Understanding manual handling operation regulations is critical for employers, and they have a legal duty to keep employees safe and reduce the risks of manual handling where possible.
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (or MHOR) cover employers and employees.
The regulations state that:
Employers have a legal obligation to make a ‘sufficient and suitable’ review of any manual handling task to understand the level of risk. Any manual handling task that could pose the risk of injury must be subject to a full risk assessment.
An employee must take reasonable care of their health and safety in the workplace and communicate with their employers regarding any potentially hazardous manual handling tasks.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 dictates that employers must protect the health and safety of employees at work. The act also requires that employees adhere to health and safety guidelines and processes.
The Importance of Correct Manual Handling Techniques
Alongside applying safe manual handling principles, control measures such as using mechanical aids and following robust manual handling risk assessment processes, correct manual handling techniques are crucial to ensuring the safe movement of loads and reducing the risk of injury occurring from manual handling.
When lifting a heavy load, following a safe manual handling technique is crucial.
- Lift with your legs, not your back
- Keep the load close to your body
- Maintain good posture
- Take breaks when necessary
Using Mechanical Aids to Reduce Workplace Injury
Where tasks have been assessed using the 5 principles of manual handling but present a risk of injury, businesses should look to utilise a mechanical aid to improve safety.
For lifting loads, this may involve hoists, pallet trucks, forklift trucks or vacuum lifters. Electric tugs and powered tugs can be utilised to deliver the safe movement of wheeled loads.
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