Manual handling is a primary cause of workplace injury in Australia. Indeed, more than 12,000 handling injury claims were lodged in 2015-2016 alone and represented almost 30% of all serious work-related injuries. Regardless of whether it is lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling, manual handling forms a major component of almost any industry, from healthcare and aged care to construction, office environments, and warehousing.
This article will outline how to avoid manual handling injuries, optimal lifting methods, and why safe manual handling is essential for the safety of employees. We will also share tips on how to practically minimize the risks of manual handling injuries and detail when manual handling training is necessary.
What Is Manual Handling and Why Is It Important?
Manual handling is the moving or supporting of a load by one or more individuals. It encompasses actions like lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling. But it also includes actions such as holding a load, moving it from one location to another, or supporting it while in transit.
The significance of manual handling safety cannot be stressed enough. Without safe techniques, manual handling can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) including back injuries, shoulder strains, wrist strain, and knee issues. Since such injuries are common, it is important to have safe practices in any workplace that involves manual handling.
Common Manual Handling Injuries
Manual handling operations may lead to a variety of injuries, a great majority of which can be long-term or even disabling. Some of the most frequently experienced injuries related to manual handling are:
- Lower Back Pain: Most frequent type of injury due to misuse of lifting techniques. This is most often when individuals lift with their backs rather than their legs, and they put a strain on the spine.
- Shoulder Injuries: These may be caused by improper lifting or repeated overhead work, including lifting boxes overhead or pushing and pulling heavy objects.
- Elbow and Wrist Injuries: Frequently caused by repeated lifting of heavy loads or use of tools that cause excessive wrist and elbow joint strain.
- Neck and Knee Injuries: May result from bad posture during lifting or moving heavy objects, causing excessive strain on the neck, shoulders, or knees.
Preventing these injuries involves an understanding of correct manual handling procedures and insistence on the implementation of safe practices in the workplace. CPR First Aid provides a First Aid Course which includes necessary skills to address manual handling and other occupational accidents caused injuries.
The Risk Assessment Process for Manual Handling
Risk assessments are necessary for determining the possible hazards and ensuring manual handling work is undertaken safely. A thorough risk assessment means determining, assessing, and controlling risks likely to cause injury. The following are steps to follow in conducting a manual handling risk assessment:
1. Identify Hazards
The initial step is to identify all the tasks involving manual handling. Such tasks might involve lifting, pushing, pulling, or holding materials. Identify any occasions where staff might be at risk of injury, such as lifting heavy packages or moving items that are cumbersome to handle.
2. Assess Risks
Having identified hazards, the second step is to assess risks that relate to every task. This includes taking into consideration factors such as:
- The size and weight of the load
- The distance it must be relocated
- The task frequency
- The setting in which the task is being conducted (e.g., a messy workspace)
3. Engage Workers in the Assessment
There is a need to engage workers in the process of risk assessment because they are able to share important information about the manual handling work they undertake on a daily basis. This participatory process can reveal risks that are not immediately apparent.
CPR First Aid’s Workplace Health and Safety Courses incorporate training on how to perform effective risk assessments and employ safe work practices.
Hierarchy of Controls to Prevent Injuries
Once hazards are recognized and risks have been evaluated, it’s crucial to apply control measures to avoid injuries. The Hierarchy of Controls is an organized method of managing risks and has widespread application in occupational health and safety:
1. Eliminate Hazards
The initial action of reducing the risks of manual handling is to remove the hazard completely. For example, automation or mechanical assistance like cranes, conveyors, or forklifts can rule out the need for manual lifting completely.
2. Engineering Controls
When removal is not feasible, there should be engineering controls. This may involve redesigning the workplaces or employing adjustable workplaces in order to minimize the strain on workers. Mechanical aids like trolleys, hoists, or lifts are also treated as engineering controls.
3. Administrative Controls
Administrative controls aim to change the way that work is performed to minimize the risks of manual handling. These include job rotation to avoid repetitive strain, organizing frequent breaks during work, and restricting the duration of manual handling activities.
4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Although PPE cannot completely remove the risk of injury, it can offer some protection. Equipment like supportive footwear, gloves, and back supports can be used to reduce the impact of manual handling tasks.
Safe Manual Handling Techniques
Applying safe manual handling methods is essential in preventing injury. By adopting the proper lifting methods, individuals can greatly minimize their risk of musculoskeletal conditions.
Proper Lifting & Carrying Methods
Adhere to the following steps while lifting and moving heavy loads:
- Plan the Lift: Before you lift, evaluate the load and make sure that you have a clear path. Evaluate if the load can be handled and determine if you need help.
- Get a Good Grip: Make sure that you have a secure grip on the load so that you can control it. Don’t lift using your fingers or using materials that are hard to grip.
- Lift with Your Legs: Hips and knees, not your back, bend and use leg strength to lift the load. To prevent strain, keep the load near your body.
- Maintain Stable Posture: To remain stable, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your back straight and do not twist.
- Set the Load Down Safe: To set the load down, bend your knees, not your back. Set the load down on a firm surface.
Team Lifting and Communication
If a load is too heavy or cumbersome for one person to handle, team lifting is required. Good communication is vital to make sure that everyone involved is on the same page. Team members need to coordinate their actions and lift together.
Pushing vs. Pulling Best Practice
Pushing is usually safer when moving a heavy load than pulling. Pushing helps you use your body weight to help with the load, which puts less strain on your arms and back. If you have to pull, keep the load in front of you and use both hands to help you control it.
Training and Monitoring for Ongoing Safety
Training and ongoing monitoring are important to have a safe work environment. Following are the steps to ensure proper ongoing manual handling safety:
Effective Training vs Ineffective Training
Training must be task-specific for what the employees actually do and include definitive, practical guidance on how to lift and move loads safely. It must also include demonstrations, such as lifting procedures and the use of mechanical lifting aids. Poor training does not put workers “on task” or target the particular hazards they encounter at work.
Health Monitoring, Fatigue Management, and Reviewing Controls
Regular monitoring of health will be able to detect any signs of musculoskeletal disorders early. Fatigue management practices, like taking frequent breaks, can prevent injuries as well. Regular review and revision of control measures are undertaken to ensure that they are still effective and relevant.
FAQs
What Is Heavy Manual Handling in Australia?
Heavy manual handling are tasks that consist of lifting, carrying, or moving loads over the safe weight limit for a person to lift. It may also consist of awkward or repetitive movements.
When Should You Get Help Lifting?
In case the load is too heavy, difficult to carry, or beyond your physical capacity, it is always wise to seek assistance. Team lifting or mechanical aids are advised.
How Can You Prevent Manual Handling Injuries?
To avoid manual handling injuries, always use safe lifting practices, utilize mechanical aids whenever you can, and make sure you take regular breaks to prevent fatigue.
By enrolling in CPR First Aid’s courses, individuals can develop critical first aid skills, reducing the risk of manual handling injuries in the workplace.