1. Manual Handling
Soft Skills Programme
Nexus Alliance Ltd

2. Session Elements 1. Definition 2. Injuries and Statistics
3. Anatomy of the Spine
4. Risk Assessment
5. Safe Handling Techniques
2. Mechanical Aids

3. Definition What is Manual Handling?
Any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person, including,

4. Definition What is Manual Handling?
Or move or restrain any animal person or thing

5. Injuries and Statistics
Types of injuries
External
Cuts
Bruises
Crush injuries
Lacerations
Internal
Muscle and ligament strain
Hernia
Prolapsed disc

6. Injuries and Statistics
Types of injuries
Acute
Injuries that occur immediately
fractures, sprains, strains, slipped discs, cuts, abrasions etc
Chronic
Injuries that take time to manifest themselves
Sciatica, Loss of mobility, repetitive strain injuries etc

7. Injuries and Statistics
UK Statistics over 3 day injuries

8. Injuries and Statistics
UK Statistics site of injuries

9. Injuries and Statistics
UK Statistics type of injuries

10. Anatomy of the Spine The neutral position The spine is not straight
Trunk and head upright
Arms by side of body
Hands in handshake position
Shoulder in neutral position
Body in a relaxed balanced condition

11. Anatomy of the Spine Cervical lordosis Thoracic kyphosis
Cervical region – 7 vertebrae
Cervical lordosis
Thoracic region – 12 vertebrae
Thoracic kyphosis
Lumber region – 5 vertebrae
Lumber lordosis
Sacrum and coccyx

12. Anatomy of the Spine The neutral position Consists of
33 Bones/vertebrae
Spinal cord
Discs
Nerves
Ligaments

13. Risk Assessment Hazard and Risk Hazard
Something with the potential to cause harm
Can be physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic or psychological
Risk
The likelihood that harm will occur and the severity of the harm

14. Risk Assessment Will cover following headings Task Individual Load
Environment

15. Risk Assessment
Hierarchy of Control

16. Risk Assessment Group exercise
Student participation –Group risk assessment of a lifting operation. Consider TILE throughout.

17. Safe Handling Techniques
Hazard and Risk
Hazard
Something with the potential to cause harm
Can be physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic or psychological
Risk
The likelihood that harm will occur and the severity of the harm

18. Safe Handling Techniques
Group exercise
Student participation –demo holding arms out.
Ask the group to stand up and extend their arms in front of them – hold for one minute – lean forward slightly, i.e. transfer weight on to toes, but still keep the heels on the ground -1minute – now lift heels from the ground, and transfer the weight further forwards, maintaining balance, (if possible). Then ask them to relax.
Discuss what group noticed – loss of balance, muscle stiffening/static muscular work.
Ask the group what they think stopped them falling over during the last stages of the exercise.
State that the muscle tension, and the back tension, in particular, protects the balance during manual handling activity.
After all, the movements that the group was making would with minor adjustments, be a very common one.
Discuss Picking a turkey up out of a freezer or off a shelf at a supermarket how much pressure is put on your spine? Alternatively talk about picking child up out of car seat.

19. Safe Handling Techniques
Effects of loads on the body

20. Safe Handling Techniques
Effects of loads on the body

21. Safe Handling Techniques
Effects of loads on the body

22. Safe Handling Techniques
Effects of loads on the body

23. Safe Handling Techniques
Assess the load
Size
Weight
Position
Shape
Hand holds
PPE.

24. Safe Handling Techniques
Assess the Route
Un-obstructed
Doors
Floor condition
Change in levels
Distance.

25. Safe Handling Techniques
Correct stance
Feet apart for balanced stable lift
Leading leg in front as far as is comfortable
Feet in the direction of travel

26. Safe Handling Techniques
Head up
Keep your head up
Chin in
Natural curve back
Should feel normal and comfortable

27. Safe Handling Techniques
Head up
Relaxed muscles are less prone to injury
Bend the knees so that the hands when grasping the load are as nearly level with the waist as possible
Do not over-flex the knees
Keep the shoulders level and facing the same direction as the hips

28. Safe Handling Techniques
Bend knees
Relaxed muscles are less prone to injury
Bend the knees so that the hands when grasping the load are as nearly level with the waist as possible
Do not over-flex the knees
Keep the shoulders level and facing the same direction as the hips

29. Safe Handling Techniques
Firm hold
Select hand hold
Use whole hand not fingers
Palms up
Elbows in
Arms within boundary of legs

30. Safe Handling Techniques
Load close to body
Heavy side of load close to body
Reduce stress on the back
Reposition load if required to achieve this.

31. Safe Handling Techniques
The lift
Head up
Chin in
Elbows in
Firm grip
Breath in
Straight back
Lift with leg muscles.

32. Safe Handling Techniques
Putting load down
Reverse of the lifting operation.
Body begins to lower in a base fashion
Finally head is allowed to drop
If precise positioning of the load is necessary, put it down first, then slide it into the desired position.

33. Safe Handling Techniques
Group exercise
Student participation –demo palms up and palm down.
Ask the group to stand up one at a time and pick a small load up, first with palms down then with palms up. Ask which feels more comfortable and gives less stress to the muscles.

34. Safe Handling Techniques
Group exercise
Student participation –demo elbow out or in.
Ask the group to stand up and extend their elbows out. Hold the position for 1 minute and then ask them to lower there elbows to the waist. Ask which is easier, in or out.

35. Safe Handling Techniques
Group exercise
Student participation –demo safe lift.
Ask the group to one at a time to come forward and following the given steps, safely lift from floor position an empty medium size box. Point out any errors.

36. Safe Handling Techniques
Team lifting
One person to plan & control throughout operation
Compatible individual team member sizes
PPE
Team member positions and hand holds
Establish words of command (on 3 or after 3)
Co-ordinated of movements
Awareness of team members (walking backwards, stairs).

37. Safe Handling Techniques
Group exercise
Student participation –demo safe team lift.
Ask the group in pairs to come forward and following the given steps, safely lift from floor position an empty large size box or chair. Point out any errors.

38. Mechanical Aids Considerations Hierarchy of control Risk Matrix
Can we use mechanised aids to achieve ALARP
Severity of Harm
Slight (1)
Serious (2)
Major (3)
Low (1) 1 2 3
Medium (2) 4 6
High (3) 9
Probability of Harm

39. Mechanical Aids
Types

40. Mechanical Aids
Types

41. Manual Handling
Any Questions?