Manual Handling - Induction
The following notes are designed to reduce the risk of accident whilst engaged in any form of manual handling during your time at the College, and later in the wider workplace.
Manual handling is defined as the transporting or supporting of a load by hands or bodily force, including:
Lifting
Carrying
Putting Down
Pushing
Pulling
Moving
Supporting
Legal Requirements:
There are three main regulations that affect the Colleges Manual Handling Policy
Health and Safety At Work Act 1974
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
These Regulations place specific responsibilities on employers and their employees undertaking manual handling operations including:
For Employers
Where possible avoid manual handling operations
Assess any manual handling operations which cannot be avoided
Reduce the risk of injury
The need to provide training
The need to provide relevant information
For Employees
Make proper use of equipment & follow safe working systems
Co-operate with their employer
Ensure others are not put at risk
Comply with the instruction notices
Why bother with a structured approach to manual handling?
More than 1/3 of all accidents reported to the HSE are handling related
All parts of the body can be injured during manual handling operations
The most common types of injury are cumulative effects from poor lifting techniques over a period of time and not' one off ' traumatic events
Good lifting techniques avoid injury when manual handling
Risk assessments in practice
Look for hazards
Decide who might be harmed and how
Evaluate risks / control measures
Record the findings of the assessment
Review / revise assessment
PRINCIPLES OF SAFE HANDLING
Avoiding handling
Use available trolleys or other lifting equipment
Get someone else to handle for you (someone specifically trained or selected for the task)
ask yourself “does it have to be moved?"
Assess the task
Posture - feet apart - knees bent - firm grip - lift with legs - keep load close to body - put down with care
Pace yourself by controlling the rate of work - have breaks
Is a team required?
Assess you and your team's capabilities
Strength, height etc.
Health problems
Training, experience
Gender, age, fitness
Assess the load
Weight, shape, size
Handles, packaging
Stability
Contents - hot, cold, hazardous
Assess the environment
Space constraints
Flooring condition, levels
Temperature, humidity, ventilation
Tidiness, general housekeeping
Plan
What is the most appropriate posture?
Is there mechanical aid available .
Is there anyone else to help?
Route - consider start and end points
Can any obstruction be cleared?
Prepare the load
Can the load be split?
Can the loads be made more stable?
Are the contents evenly distributed?
Is the centre of gravity of the load close to yours?
Cover sharp or abrasive edges
Prepare yourself and the area
Check space constraints
Move obstacles
Check final destination
Get a good grip on the load
Use PPE where appropriate