Manual Handling Safety at Work Credit value: 2 Level 2

Learning outcome 1: Understand the reasons for safe manual handling

1.1 Outline the potential injuries and ill health associated with incorrect manual handling The term manual handling is defined as the movement of a load by human effort alone. This can be with the help of aids such as levers, ropes and mechanical transportation. Typical hazards of manual handling include: lifting a load which is too heavy or cumbersome resulting in a back injury, poor posture during lifting or poor lifting technique resulting in a back injury, dropping the load resulting in a foot injury and lifting sharp-edged or hot loads resulting in hand injuries. These injuries can be acute or chronic resulting in sickness leave or longer term problems from arthritic and spinal disorders. The most common injuries are musculoskeletal, ranging from muscular sprains and strains to damaged vertebrae, hernias, lumbago and sciatica.

A recent study found that 49% of work absences are due to MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)  Some of the tasks relating to these injuries include:  Repetitive movements. Lifting and carrying materials and equipment. Working at incorrect heights. Lack of physical space. Heavy physical work. Poor workplace design

1.2 Outline employers and employees duties relating to manual handling at work Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that ‘It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his/her employees’. This would include the appropriate PPE, tools and equipment that are fit for purpose and regularly tested and a working environment suitable for carrying out the work tasks. According to the act, employees also have a duty to take reasonable care of themselves and others, and must not interfere intentionally or recklessly with anything provided for health and safety.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992) (MHOR) are in place to provide safe manual handling activities including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying any load. The load can be animate or inanimate. Employers with more than 5 employees must record all accidents in an accident book to produce as part of RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) records when needed. RIDDOR is the law that requires employers to report and keep records of specific injuries and diseases, or when someone has been off work for more than 7 days in a row due to an injury at work.

1.3 Outline the consequences for non-compliance with health and safety requirements at work Short-term consequences for employers are possible loss of trained workers due to sickness, an investigation into health and safety practices and possible prosecution and personal injury claims. The consequences for the injured employee could be months off work, extensive rehabilitation and possibly a lifetime of intermittent discomfort and pain. There is an impact on society to consider, mainly made up of health and welfare costs which are used to treat the injured.

Learning outcome 2: Understand how manual handling risk assessments contribute to improving health and safety

2.1 Explain the terms ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’ in the context of manual handling work A hazard is anything that may cause harm, a risk is the chance, high or low, of somebody being harmed by the hazard, and how serious the harm could be. In manual handling, balancing the risk where it is reasonably practical means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the risk in terms of money, time and trouble.

It is essential that training is given to all operatives that might encounter manual handling tasks. This should cover: Manual Handling risk factors and how injuries could occur How to carry out safe manual handling Appropriate systems of work for the individual’s tasks and environment Use of mechanical aids

2.2 Outline the process for carrying out a manual handling risk assessment All risk assessments should try to eliminate, or at least reduce, the potential for accidents, injuries or ill-health that may arise from working activities. Simple steps can be followed to carry out effective risk assessment in the working environment: Look out for hazards that could cause accidents or injuries. Take into account the load, the task, the environment and the potential operator(s)

Decide who might be harmed and how: evaluate the potential consequences of the hazards. Decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done: find ways to reduce the risk Monitor the risks, and review preventive measures

2.3 Describe the principle of the risk control hierarchy when applied to manual handling Risk control hierarchy is an analysis when employers are confronted with a manual handling operation. It states that: Employers should avoid manual handling operations so far as reasonably practical either by re-designing the task to avoid moving the load or by automating or mechanising the operation If manual handling cannot be avoided, then a suitable and sufficient risk assessment should be made. Reduce the risk of injury from those operations as far as is reasonably practicable, by either the use of mechanical handling or making improvements to the task, load and the working environment.

Learning outcome 3: Understand the principles, types of equipment and testing requirements associated with manual handling safety

3.1 Describe safe movement principles associated with manual handling Basic principles of manual handling There are some basic principles that everyone should observe prior to carrying out a manual handling operation: ensure that the object is light enough to lift, is stable and unlikely to shift or move heavy or awkward loads should be moved using a handling aid make sure the route is clear of obstructions make sure there is somewhere to put the load down wherever it is to be moved to

stand as close to the load as possible, and spread your feet to shoulder width bend your knees and try and keep the back's natural, upright posture grasp the load firmly as close to the body as you can use the legs to lift the load in a smooth motion as this offers more leverage reducing the strain on your back carry the load close to the body with the elbows tucked into the body avoid twisting the body as much as possible by turning your feet to position yourself with the load.

3.2 Outline the types of equipment designed to be used for manual handling tasks Equipment can range from simple tools such as: snips, tongs, jacks and lifting hooks. Mechanical Handling aids include wheelbarrows, rail trolleys, cranes, hoists etc.

3.3 Outline the requirements for the testing, servicing and examination of manual handling and lifting equipment There are four elements to the use manual handling and lifting equipment. These are the handling equipment, the load, the workplace and the employees involved The manual/mechanical handling equipment must be fit for the task, be fault- free, well maintained and regularly inspected  The load should be prepared for transportation in such a way that minimises accidents. Special care should be taken with flammable or hazardous substances.

The workplace should be free from obstruction, accessible for the load and sufficient lighting to do the task  The employees must be trained in manual handling, wear the appropriate PPE and allow for specialist operators who are competent and trained to move loads in a safe way.

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) These Regulations (often abbreviated to LOLER) place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment. This includes all businesses and organisations whose employees use lifting equipment, whether owned by them or not. In most cases, lifting equipment is also work equipment so the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) will also apply (including inspection and maintenance). All lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.

LOLER also requires that all equipment used for lifting is fit for purpose, appropriate for the task, suitably marked and, in many cases, subject to statutory periodic 'thorough examination'. Records must be kept of all thorough examinations and any defects found must be reported to both the person responsible for the equipment and the relevant enforcing authority.

Lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined in a number of situations, including: before first use (unless there is a valid Declaration of Conformity made less than 12 months earlier) where it depends on installation, or re-installation / assembly at another site where it is exposed to conditions causing deterioration, liable to result in danger Records of thorough examinations should be made and, where defects are identified, they should be reported to both the person using the equipment (and to any person from whom it has been hired or leased), and the relevant enforcing authority (HSE for industrial workplaces; local authorities for most other workplaces).

Learning outcome 4: Be able to apply safe manual handling principles

4.1 Demonstrate efficient and safe manual handling principles when: A) Applying effort to, or moving a load or object manually on their own B) When using manual handling aids and equipment C) When undertaking a manual handling task as part of a team

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