Manual Handling – How’s Your Technique?

Ask an employee to explain good lifting techniques. Also check there is no unnecessary manual handling.

Reason for This Question

Staff must not be allowed to carry out any manual handling tasks without having had manual handling training.

Possible Answers

• Red: Staff could not demonstrate safe lifting techniques

• Amber: Staff able to demonstrate safe handling, but no training records found

• Green: Staff able to demonstrate safe handling and good training records in place

Common Issues

• No training records available.

• Observations saw many examples of poor manual handling techniques.

• Processes not documented

• Manual handling training is provided as part of induction however but no refresher training.

Fail Rate

18% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.

Information

What is manual handling?

Manual handling is defined as “The supporting and transporting of a load by hand or bodily force”

• Lifting or lowering

• Carrying

• Pulling

• Pushing

Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulation 1992 it is every employer’s duty to carry out a risk assessment for each manual handling task or activity.

Before completing a risk assessment as employer you need to ask:

Can this activity/task be eliminated? Does it have to happen?

Manual handling policy

It should be policy that all team members receive manual handling training on induction and training prior to commencement of any duties involving manual handling.

Poor manual handling is one of the biggest single causes of injuries in the workplace.

Injuries include pulled muscles and strains, damage to the structure of the back, damage from dropping loads onto feet or trapping hands between loads and fixtures, and falls when trying to move loads.

Examples of manual handling include:

• Lifting stock up to and down from stockroom racking,

• Carrying stock into a stockroom area from a delivery vehicle,

• Pushing or pulling out a trolley,

• Putting out the waste,

• Handling equipment that needs to be physically moved.

Good manual handling practices can help to prevent and minimise accidents and injury.

People are different!

The ability to carry out physical work such as manual handling will vary between employees, e.g. with age, sex, fitness, etc. and also for the same person over time, e.g. as they age, become more or less fit, suffer injuries or illness.

• Never assume that everyone is capable of a particular task,

• In general, young persons, females, less physically fit persons, and team members with lighter physiques can handle fewer loads, in a safe manner, than a mature, male, fit, physically strong person.

Certain conditions can make persons more susceptible to manual handling injuries, even if they might otherwise be considered likely to be capable of a particular task. These include:

• pregnancy and nursing,

• any existing upper limb problems,

• any existing back problems,

• Hernia, etc.

Safe Manual Handling Guidance

If possible manual handling of loads will be avoided altogether.

It is unlikely that all manual handling can be avoided but it might be possible to remove the need for some tasks.

If handling cannot be avoided use of mechanical aids should be considered to reduce the amount of physical effort required.

For a specific task then management will need to complete a task specific lifting and carrying risk assessment form or the task specific pushing and pulling risk assessment form which is held in the health and safety records folder or can be printed from PYRAMID™ under the health and safety menu ->health and safety records option.

Any team member who feels they have any impairment that may affect an ability to carry out manual handling safely, should inform their duty manager.

Where team members will have to use physical effort in manual handling the following general precautions must be followed:

• Anyone carrying out manual handling will be trained in good handling technique,

• Individuals must not attempt to handle loads that are beyond their capabilities,

• If necessary, loads should be broken down to a more manageable weight, especially in cases where help from another team member is not available,

• Help should always be sought from other team members to move heavy or awkward objects that cannot be split into smaller, or more manageable, loads. These team members must be briefed on the findings of the risk assessment.

• Sensible footwear which gives a good grip and allows for good balance must be worn.

How to avoid manual handling:

• Does it need to be moved?

• Can contractors be used?

• Contact your management if issues arise and that cannot be resolved.

• Smaller and more manageable loads/products.

• Can the items be taken direct to their storage area or point of use by the deliverer?

• Can the distance travelled be reduced or be made safer or easier to move things through?