Understanding Manual

Handling

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 Course content
 Introduction
 Accidents and injuries
 The basics of law
 Risk Assessment
 Lifting techniques

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 Introduction
 Manual handling is  Lifting
defined as the  Carrying
transporting or  Putting down
supporting of a load
 Pushing
by hands or bodily
force. This includes:  Pulling
 Moving
 Supporting

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 The importance of correct
manual handling

 60% suffer back pain annually

 30% become chronic sufferers
 60 million working days lost in 1999
 Financial costs estimated at £3.25 billion
 230,000 off work EVERY day
 Source HSE Guidance and DSS

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 Reportable accidents causing
injury
 Handling goods & materials 36.9%
 Slips, trips and falls 20.2%
 Struck by objects 15.9%
 Falls from height 6.5%
 Machinery 4.4%
 Miscellaneous 16.1%
 Source HSE March 2000

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 Sites of injuries caused by
manual handling

 Back 45%  Rest of torso 8%

 Finger/Thumb 16%  Hands 6%
 Arms 13%  Other 3%
 Lower limbs 9%

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 Relevant legislation

 Health and safety at work act 1974

 Management of health and safety at work
regulations 1999
 Manual handling operations regulations
1992

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 Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992
 Employers  Employees
responsibilities responsibilities
 Avoid handling where  Make proper use of
possible equipment & follow
 Conduct assessment safe working systems
 Take steps to reduce  Co-operate with their
risks employer
 Provide load  Ensure others are not
information put at risk

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 Risk assessments in practice
 Look for hazards
 Decide who might be harmed and how
 Evaluate risks/Control measures
 Record the findings of assessment
 Review / revise assessment

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 Manual Handling risk
assessments

T Task
I Individual’s capabilities
L Load
E Environment

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 Kinetic lifting techniques
 Look at the load
 Foot position
 Bend knees/back
straight
 Test load/take firm
grip
 Lift with legs/load
close
 Put down with care

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Main points to consider during
team lifting

 All participants should be of similar height,

build and gender
 One person should take control of the lift,
command attention, inform others and co-
ordinate the lift
 Double the people DOES NOT MEAN
double the capacity
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 If one person can lift 50
kilograms
How much can two people lift?

Only 70 % or 70 kilograms

How much can three people lift?

Only 50 % or 75 kilograms

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 …and finally

 This course has merely provided you with

information on manual handling and how to
conduct a manual handling risk assessment.
You will only protect your back and
yourself if you practice the techniques
learnt today. Manual handling affects your
whole life…
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