INTRODUCTION TO MANUAL HANDLING

AIMS:  TO DELIVER AN OVERVEIW ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MANUAL HANDLING, EMPLOYERS LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS WHEN CARRYING OUT TASKS. 2

INTRODUCTION

 Define the term manual handling  Describe the different activities which make up manual handling  Explain how manual handling injuries make up a significant number of workplace accidents and the impact of those accidents  State the benefits to the employer when manual handling risks are controlled  State the benefits to the employee of following procedures and using lifting aids correctly. OUTCOMES

WHAT IS MANUAL HANDLING THE SUPPORTING AND TRANSPORTING OF A LOAD BY HAND OR BY BODILY FORCE Lifting /Lowering Pulling Pushing Carrying

MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONS  Time off work due to manual handling problems far outweighs any other single reason for absence at work  Targeted inspections by the enforcing authorities  HSE ‘Better Backs’ campaign.

ENFORCEMENT  Local Authority Environmental Health Officers (E.H.O): Shops, offices, residential homes, warehousing, entertainment  Health and Safety Executive (H.S.E. Safety Officer): Factories, hospitals, nursing homes, mines, schools, construction etc.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CONTROLLING MANUAL HANDLING RISKS FOR A BUSINESS? 1. Maintain production/contracts 2. Maintain quality of products 3. Maintain or reduce insurance costs 4. If manual handling risks are not properly controlled the employer may have:  Retraining costs  Wage and overtime costs  Loss of reputation with customers  Adverse publicity/prosecution and Civil liability.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING LIFTING AIDS AND CORRECT TECHNIQUES FOR EMPLOYEES? 1. Avoid injury 2. Avoid pain, suffering and stress for the employee and their family 3. Prevent loss/reduction in earnings If you are injured it may affect your:  Lifestyle  Leisure activities  Ability to sleep  Job prospects.

LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

OUTCOMES  State how the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 impact on manual handling operations  List the general duties of the employer, employee and the self-employed under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992  Describe where advice, guidance and information can be found to assist in reducing manual handling risks.

‘HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC ACT, 1974’ 12 Duties of Employers: ‘the general duty imposed on all employers is to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees.’ Duties of Employees: 'employees must take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by what they do or fail to do at work- their acts and omissions.' Employers and employees who fail to comply with any of the duties described in the Act make themselves liable to be prosecuted in the courts.

HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974  provide and maintain safe equipment and systems of work  provide safe systems of work  provide information, instruction, supervision and training  provide a safe place of work  provide a safe working environment  consult employees  have a health & safety policy (written when there are 5 or more employees). EMPLOYER MUST:

EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITIES  Cooperate with the employer  Take reasonable care of themselves and others  Do not alter equipment provided and use as instructed  Report any faults or defects and any hazardous handling activities. Health And Safety At Work Act (H.A.S.A.W.A) 1974 Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations (M.H.S.W.R.) 1999 Manual Handling Operations Regulations (M.H.O.R.)1992

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1999  Employers must take into account the capability of any employee before giving them a task to complete. CAPABILITY OF EMPLOYEES

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1999  Employers must ensure that employees are provided with adequate health & safety training 1. On recruitment 2. On being exposed to increased risk 3. On a change of job or equipment 4. From time to time (refresher training) TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES

17 Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998  Employers are required to ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is properly planned by a ‘competent person’ appropriately supervised and conducted in a safe manner  Any person involved in planning a manual handling task should have adequate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience.  All Equipment defects must be reported.  All records and examinations of equipment should be kept for inspection

‘ PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS (P.U.W.E.R) 18  Covers all equipment used at work. They impose a range of duties concerning matters such as;  Employers providing suitable work equipment (Regulation 4)  Employers providing information, instruction and training for people who use the equipment. (Regulation 9)  Equipment being in good repair and regularly inspected, with records of the inspections kept (Regulation 3)

PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS ( P.U.W.E.R. )  SUITABILITY OF WORK EQUIPMENT: 1. Has to be constructed or adapted so that it is suitable for its purpose 2. It has to be selected with the conditions of use and the users health and safety in mind 3. It may only be used for operations for which and under conditions for which it is suitable 19

PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS ( P.U.W.E.R. ) Maintenance:  The regulations set out the general requirements in order to keep work equipment maintained in: 1. An efficient state 2. Efficient working order 3. Good repair 20

PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS ( P.U.W.E.R. ) Information, Instruction and Training  Persons who are using the equipment they must have adequate: 1. Health and Safety Information. 2. Where appropriate, written instructions about the use of the equipment. 3. Training for Health and Safety in methods which should be adopted when using the equipment and any hazards and precautions which should be taken to reduce risks. 21

MANUAL HANDLING HAZARDS

HSE STATISTICS - MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES BACK Finger/Thumb Arm Hand /Wrist Lower Limb Rest of Torso Other 3 % 49 % 14 % 10 % 9 % 8 % 7 %

24  Poor Posture  Faulty body mechanics  Stressful living & working habits  Loss of flexibility  Poor physical condition

HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES TOP HEAVY BENDING HOLDING AWAY FROM TRUNK. REACHING

HIGH-RISK ACTIVITIES POOR POSTURE. TWISTING SEATED & STOOPED STRETCHING UPWARDS

MODULE 4 MANUAL HANDLING ASSESSMENT S

28  Avoiding a hazardous manual handling situation is preferable. AARRAARR void ssess educe eview  Risk Assessments should be reviewed when changes occur.  By following the Risk Assessment you are reducing the risk of injury to all persons involved. Training of staff in safer handling techniques, introducing appropriate handling aids and changing work patterns will all help reduce the risk. *  Avoidance is not possible, making a ‘suitable and sufficient’ assessment of the hazards is the next step. HEIRARCHY OF CONTROL MEASURES

RISK MATRIX Slightly Harmful (requiring first aid) Harmful (resulting in time off work) Extremely Harmful (causing major injury or death) Highly Unlikely Trivial RiskTolerable RiskModerate Risk Unlikely (could occur sometime) Tolerable RiskModerate RiskSubstantial Risk Likely (not surprised if it did happen) Moderate RiskSubstantial RiskIntolerable Risk Action Required Tolerable Risk: monitor compliance Moderate Risk: plan control measures Substantial Risk: take urgent steps Intolerable Risk: stop

L OAD I NDIVIDUAL TASK ENVIRONMENT 30

 Weight ?  Difficult to manage ?  likely to move unexpectedly ?  Communication ?  Capabilities ?  Injuries to be aware of ? LOAD WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE MOVING ?

INDIVIDUAL (YOUR CAPABILITY)  Are you fit enough? (fatigue level)  Any past / present injuries to consider?  Have you been trained with this load?  Are you pregnant?  Do you need particular strength or other physical requirement? What do you need to consider about YOURSELF before carrying out manual handling?

 Introducing unsatisfactory body movements i.e. Twisting, reaching upwards or stooping?  Excessive lifting distances?  Frequent or prolonged physical effort? TASK WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE ATTEMPTING IT

ENVIRONMENT  space constraints preventing good posture?  floors which are uneven, slippery or unstable?  obstructed floors and traffic routes?  extremely hot or cold working conditions?  poor lighting conditions? What you should know before Manual Handling

EQUIPMENT AND WORK ORGANISATION  Is movement hindered by work equipment?  Is the work equipment being used unsuitable?  Is movement hindered by personal protective equipment?  Is the job boring?  Is the job repetitive? OTHER FACTORS to be consider before Manual Handling

3 KEY PRINCIPLES OF SAFE MANUAL HANDLING Maintain a Natural Upright Posture Adopt a Stable Base Keep the Load as Close as necessary

SAFE LIFTING  Warming up  Is help needed?  Plan  Clothing  Grip  Repetitive strain injuries  Storage. THINK BEFORE YOU START

SAFE LIFTING TECHNIQUE  STOP AND THINK. Step 1

SAFE LIFTING TECHNIQUE  POSITION THE FEET. Step 2

SAFE LIFTING TECHNIQUE  BEND THE KNEES. Step 3

SAFE LIFTING TECHNIQUE  Lift with a firm grip and straight back. Step 4

SAFE LIFTING TECHNIQUE  RAISE THE LOAD WITH THE LEGS. Step 5

SAFE LIFTING TECHNIQUE  KEEP THE LOAD CLOSE TO THE BODY. Step 6

CARRYING AND UNLOADING  Close to body  Change of grip  No twisting  Look  Do not obstruct vision  Mechanical aids.

PUSHING AND PULLING  TIPS WHEN PUSHING AND PULLING  Use handling aids with handles between the shoulder and waist  Ensure the movement is within individual capability  Make efforts to remove the need to push or pull on slopes either up or down  Manage uneven surfaces  Maintain correct stance  Maintain correct pace.

MANUAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT

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