Safe Handling Requirements And Manual handling Techniques
- Manual Handling is a physical activity that takes place in every workplace, and in some cases the activity does not pose problem. However it can be a potential workplace hazard when an worker is required to handle very heavy loads, which could result in a back injury. “ Manual Handling involves any transporting or supporting of any load by one or more workers, and includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving a load, which by reason of its characteristics or unfavorable ergonomic conditions, involves risk, particularly of back injury, to workers.”
How to assess every manual handling task
- Stage 1: This stage involves collecting information on how the task is performed and identifying the key stages in the task. This should be a team effort involving consultation with those that normally do the job. You (or the person carrying out the assessment) should have a thorough practical understanding of the type of manual handling tasks being carried out.
- Stage 2:
Collect all technical details to include information on the load weight, load size, number of manual lifts, general information on postures observed and the work environment - Stage 3:
Identify the problems or risk factors. - Stage 4:
Identify what improvements you can put in place. Once you have identified the risk factors, it is necessary to investigate potential solutions. Examples of efforts that should be made include using mechanical aids, organizing the work activity to reduce the need for traveling long distance or reducing the size of the load. Clearly document the rationale for deciding on the appropriate control measure, outlining why other control measures were not possible and how the suggested control measure will avoid or reduce the risk of injury. Workers should be consulted as part of this process and where a new work activity is introduced it needs to be assessed to ensure that it does not introduce new hazards. - Stage 5:
Review the effectiveness of the control measures: Effectiveness is the degree to which the control measures have avoided or reduced the risk of injury.