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Safe Manual Handling

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Raja Sekar
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48 views

Safe Manual Handling

Uploaded by

Raja Sekar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Safe Manual Handling

Awareness Training

1
Outline

• What is manual handling?


• What are the risks of manual handling?
• What makes manual handling hazardous?
• How can the risks be managed?
o S.M.A.R.T lifting
o Team lifting
o Pushing and pulling
o Manual handling of people
o Safe storage
• Available supports and resources

2
What is Manual Handling?

• Manual handling is any activity requiring the use of force, exerted by a


person to lift, lower, push, pull or carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain
an object, person or animal.

3
Example Manual Handling Tasks

• Carrying large number of books

• Lifting and moving sport equipment

• Storing and retrieving boxes above or below shoulder height

• Moving furniture

• Typing at an incorrectly set-up


workstation

• Hanging art work/poster

4
What are the risks?

• Manual handling injuries make up


approximately 10% of total injuries
occurring in Department workplaces.

5
What are the risks?

• Work related musculoskeletal


disorders can occur as a result of:
• repeated damage or strain
• a single case of overburdening
Bones and muscle while flexing
• WMSD may include injuries to:
• Muscles
• Ligaments Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament

• Intervertebral disc
• Nerves
• Tendons in the wrist, arms,
shoulders, neck or legs

Nervous System

6
What are the risks?

• The spine in its normal S-curve


shape is very flexible, but is easily
affected by movements which are:
forceful, awkward, asymmetrical and
or jerky, especially if the back is bent
or twisted while moving.
• Carrying a large or heavy load while
the back is not in its normal S-curve
shape puts much more strain on the
discs between the vertebrae.

Normal Disk Bulging Disk

7
When does it become hazardous?

Task Individual
Too Strenuous Awkward Postures Individual Physical Training/Supervision
Capacity

Load Environment
Climate (heat / cold, Available Space
Too Heavy Too Large
ventilation etc.)

8
What do you have to do?
1. IDENTIFY MANUAL HANDLING TASKS
• Talk to colleagues
• Conduct a walk through the workplace
2. ASSESS THE LEVEL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE TASK
• Document manual handling in the OHS Risk
Register
• Complete risk assessment where the tasks
or level
of risk is uncertain
3. IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT CONTROLS
• Talk to colleagues undertaking task
• Implement risk controls
• Document risk controls
• Report all manual handling incidents on
eduSafe

9
Example Risk Controls
1. Don’t undertake the task 2. Change the environment

Cle
wa ar th
lkw e
ay

10
Example Risk Controls
3. Change the nature of the work 4. Change the object

11
Example Risk Controls
5. Use mechanical aids 6. Administrative aids

12
S.M.A.R.T Lifting

13
S.M.A.R.T Lifting

Lifting a 4kg load held 6cm in front of the body


requires about the same effort as lifting a 12kg
load held 20cm in front of the body.

14
Team Lifting
• Consider:
• Are there enough people?
• Are all persons of the same
size with similar strength?
• Are there any known pre-
existing injuries?
• Who is coordinating the lift?
• Is there a plan, and has been
communicated to those
involved?

15
Pushing and Pulling
• Consider:

• When pushing, lean forward


• Stand close to the trolley
• When pulling, lean backwards (pushing is
preferable as it involves less work by the
lower back muscles and allows for maximum
use of body weight). It allows employees to
adopt a forward facing posture, providing
clearer vision in the direction of travel
• Ensuring you have a good grip
• Avoiding twisting and turning
• Checking that the handle height is between
shoulder and waist height
16
Manual Handling of People

No lift policy is best, use equipment and the


student’s own ability to avoid unnecessary
manual handling. Always follow Behaviour
Support Plans for individuals who cannot assist
with their own movement.

17
Safe Storage
• Consider:
• Storing frequently and heavy items between waist
and shoulder height
• Storing smaller, lightweight or infrequently used
items in lower or higher areas
• Knowing shelving weight limits
• Having access to a step-ladder
• Testing the weight of the object before picking it up
• Conducting quarterly workplace inspections

18
Questions

19
Thanks

20

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