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Manual Handling

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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
37 views28 pages

Manual Handling

Uploaded by

meetoozes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MANUAL HANDLING

September 2013

© SBM Offshore 2013. All rights reserved. www.sbmoffshore.com


Manual Handling - Welcome

Welcome to this short on Manual Handling


Manual handling is the cause of many workplace accidents. The most
frequent injuries are to the lower back and are caused by incorrect lifting or
movement, and by lifting or moving too heavy a load. Such injuries can
disable a worker, preventing that person from either working or carrying out
any non-work activities.

The Aims of this course are:


•Highlight the hazards involved in the movement of loads by physical effort
and how these can be eliminated or reduced
•What risk reduction and preventive measures as available
•How to conduct a manual handling assessment
Manual Handling– Statistics

Accident Statistics

36.5% of accidents causing injury are attributed to Manual Handling


Manual Handling – Hazards & Injuries

Hazards & Injuries


People pick up and move objects all the time at work and any such
activity may present a hazard. The risk is that the action will cause an
injury of some kind to the person undertaking the operation or by
causing the object to fall or move, create a risk that someone else may
be injured.
The four main causes of manual handling injuries:
Improper lifting / moving technique
Lifting / moving loads which are too heavy
Failing to grip the load / object in a safe manner
Not wearing appropriate PPE
Manual Handling – Hazards & Injuries

Hazards & Injuries


Back injuries are caused by twisting, lifting or pulling loads where the
stress is carried on the spine, usually towards the base. The most
serious injuries are slipped or crushed discs, but this can also cause
sciatica.
Common types of injuries:
Back injury (slipped, crushed disc)
Muscular problems (sprains and strains)
Hernias (muscle tear in the gut cavity)
Bone injuries (fractures, breaks & impacts)
Cuts, abrasions and bruising
Work Related Upper Limb Disorders
(inflammation of tendons, stiffness of muscles)
Manual Handling – Spine

The Spine

Whilst many back injuries are an


immediate result of lifting a heavy load,
they can also become chronic problems,
which have built up over time.

Effect of excessive loading on the spine


(Prolapsed Disc)
Manual Handling – Definition

Definition
Covers:

Lifting
Lowering
Pushing
Pulling
Carrying

The basic rule of manual handling is:


• Avoid if possible
But if it cannot be avoided
• Reduce the risk as far as possible
Manual Handling – Ergonomic Assessment

Ergonomic Assessment
Manual handling is a case
where the risk and control
options are well known. A
typical procedure for carrying
out a manual handling risk
assessment is shown here.

What is considered to be
“reasonable” will vary from case
to case and include all sort of
factors, including cost.
Manual Handling – Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment
One approach to identification of hazards in manual handling
operations involves four key factors:
The Task – analysis of the type of handling operation involved and
identifying high risk activities.
The Load – analysis, including measurements, of the object(s) being
handled.
Individual Capability – consideration of the (mainly) physical
characteristics of people who are doing the handling operation and
their ability in terms of knowledge, skills, health and strength.
The Working Environment – analysis of the immediate physical
surroundings within which the handling operation takes place.
Manual Handling – TILE

Risk Assessment – T.I.L.E


Manual Handling – Task

Risk Assessment - Task


Manual handling may involve lifting or lowering loads from the floor
or at any height, reaching up to get a load, pulling or pushing a load
or even twisting it around. The task may be broken down into more
detail considering such factors as:
•Twisting
•Stooping
•Reaching upwards
•Repetitive handling
•Movement of loads
•Long carrying distances
•Large vertical movements
Manual Handling – Load

Risk Assessment - Load


A load constitutes a hazard because of its weight, size, shape,
resistance to movement, rigidity or lack of it, position of its centre of
gravity, presence or absence of handles or even surface texture. We
need to consider such aspects as whether it is:
•Heavy
•Bulky / Unwieldy
•Difficult to hold
•Unstable / Unpredictable
•Harmful of itself
• Sharp
• Hot
Manual Handling – Environment

Risk Assessment - Environment


The term environment refers to the general and specific conditions in
the immediate surroundings where manual handling operations take
place. This should include any routes taken by loads, the key
considerations are:
•Constraints on space and posture
•Poor floor surfaces
•Variations in levels
•High temperatures / humidity
•Poor lighting
Manual Handling – Individual Capability

Risk Assessment – Individual Capability


There are three main points to assess in an individual’s ability to carry
out manual handling tasks safely:
Whether the task requires unusual abilities
• Unusual strength
• Particular height
Whether the task presents a risk to those with a health problem
• Over or underweight
• Arthritis, chest or heart issues
Whether the task calls for special information or training
• Working practices
• Special information
Manual Handling – Guidelines

Manual Handling - Guidelines

Lifting & Lowering Handling while seated


Manual Handling – Minimising the Risks

Minimising the Risk


We can reduce injury risk by using mechanical equipment such as fork
lift trucks and trolleys to undertake the lifting and / or carrying loads.
There are cost implications to this and they bring their own risks with
them, thus a balance has to be struck between their use and other
means of reducing risks.
The basis of safe systems of work for manual handling operations lies
in adopting appropriate strategies to minimise risk in terms of the
same four factors which we discussed for the risk assessment
process.
 Task
 Load
 Environment
 Individual Capability
Manual Handling – Task

Minimising the Risk - Task


Where it is not possible to use mechanical aids, consideration should
be given to the redesign of the task itself. The following aspects of the
task may be considered:
•Sequencing – adjusting the order of the tasks performed to minimise
the number of operations involving lifting and carrying loads.
•Work routine – reducing repetitive operations to allow more
variation in movement and posture by such means as breaks and job
rotation.
•Using teams – sharing the load by using teams of workers to carry
out the task, for example, specifying that two people are required to
lift certain types of loads
Manual Handling – Load

Minimising the Risk - Load


Attention should be given to reducing the weight of loads and making
them easier to handle safely. The following aspects may be considered:
•Weight and size – is it possible to break up loads so that individual items
are lighter and/or smaller.
•Making the load easier to grasp – where it is not possible to make the
loads smaller, hand grips or handles may have to be provided
•Making the load more stable – attention should be given to the way in
which items are packed within containers to prevent movement.
•Making the load less damaging to hold – ensuring that the surfaces are
clean, smooth, not slippery and hot/cold items are in insulated
containers.
•Markings – it is helpful to those handling loads that they are aware of
the approximate weight and centre of gravity
Manual Handling – Environment

Minimising the Risk -Environment


We can improve the conditions for people who are carrying out handling
operations by changing different features:
•Workstation design – the object should be make access to the load
being handled and any equipment used during the operation as
comfortable as possible.
•Floor conditions – all floors should be free of obstructions, bumps, holes
and any materials which may cause workers to slip, fall or otherwise lose
their footing.
•Changes in level – the use of steps and ladders should be avoided
wherever possible when carrying loads, particularly where they may
obstruct visibility.
•Atmospheric conditions – heating, ventilation and lighting should be
comfortable to work in and do not cause fatigue.
•PPE – operators should be provided with such equipment to protect
themselves from the type of load handled
Manual Handling – Individual Capability

Minimising the Risk –Individual Capability


Part of the function of a safe system of work for manual handling should
be to make sure that individuals are capable at all times of carrying out
the necessary operations in a competent manner.
Allowance should be made for workers with temporary or permanent
health problems, which may make them more liable to injury or less
capable of undertaking the tasks without risk to others and to the load
itself.
To ensure competence in manual handling techniques, appropriate
instruction and training is required. This should be closely related to the
person’s job and include theoretical and practical supervised sessions.
Manual Handling – Video
Manual Handling – Lifting Techniques

Manual Handling – Lifting Techniques


Manual Handling – Lifting Techniques

Manual Handling – Lifting Techniques


Before the Lift
Before actually commencing the lift, there are a number of key checks to
be made:
Check actual or approximate weight of load
Check for awkward shape
Plan your route
Remove obstructions
Wear suitable PPE
Establish a firm grip
Manual Handling – Lifting Techniques

Manual Handling – Lifting Techniques


Completing the Task
Good techniques is essential here and includes the following factors:
Bend knees
Keep your back as straight as possible
Avoid twisting, over-reaching or jerking
Establish good balance
Keep load close to body and maintain firm grip
Use body weight to lift load or carry out movement
Manual Handling – Lifting Techniques

Manual Handling – Lifting Techniques


Completing the Task
The same principles should be applied for setting loads down:
Keep your back as straight as possible
Avoid twisting, over-reaching or jerking
Maintain good balance
Keep load close to body and maintain firm grip
Use body to lower the load or carry out movement

After completion you should check that the load is safely located
and that the area is clear. The technique is sometimes
referred to as “kinetic handling” or “kinetic lifting”.
Manual Handling – Mechanical Aids

Mechanical Aids
We have noted that wherever possible mechanical aids should be used
to lift and carry loads so as to eliminate the risk of personal injury from
manual handling. Such mechanical equipment may be divided into tow
groups:
•Manually propelled or powered devices – where the weight of the load
is taken by devices such as pallet trucks which are then pushed or pulled
manually.
•Mechanically powered devices – where the power to lift and/or move
the load is provided by a motor or other mechanical means such as a lift
truck.
Introducing these aids does not eliminate risk form the operation.
Instead, it changes the type of risk faced. The use of motorised devices
presents many hazards and is a cause of a great many accidents in the
workplace.
Manual Handling– Summary

Summary

Manual handling operations present significant risks of personal injury


and damage to goods. They arise from the characteristics of the task, the
load, the working environment and the individual capabilities of the
people involved.
Note – that the hazards presented by the load are not simply those
related to its weight.
•The load is securely packed and is stable
•The working environment provides for safe operations
•The training of personnel in manual handling techniques
Manual Handling- Questions

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