basics of manual handling - hsm · pdf filepage 2 hsm safety management when assessing the...

HSM SafetyManagement

BASICS OF MANUAL HANDLING

COURSE HANDBOOK

SAMPLE


THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

SAMPLE


BASICS OF MANUAL HANDLING COURSE HANDBOOK FIRST EDITION 2011 C. N. PERRY MBA PgD CMIOSH AIIRSM RMaPS NOTE: The legislation and Guidance on Regulations extracts reproduced are done so under the “Open Government License” scheme v1.0 and the material is Crown copyright The legislation reproduced is from Statutory Instruments. The graphs and pictograms are extracts from the HSE publication L23 “Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) Guidance on Regulations” SAMPLE



SAMPLE


Introduction to Manual Handling p 1

Manual Handling and the Human Body p 3

Manual Handling Hazards and Risks p 8

Reducing the Risk of Injury p 14

Good Lifting Technique p 22

Contents

SAMPLE



SAMPLE


The term “Manual Handling” covers a wide range of activities The Manual Handling

Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) define it as;

This definition covers the whole range of work activities and everybody whilst at work will

do manual handling. Whether that manual handling puts them at risk will be determined

by the factors which will be explored in more detail further on in this handbook

Manual handling at work can range from handling simple static objects such as bricks,

reams of paper, packages etc. to more awkward and challenging objects. Some things

are more awkward as they may be unstable, contain liquids which can move or the load

may be alive, pets for example and also possibly people.

A static, inanimate load is easier to handle as it does not move whilst being handled

whereas an animate load may move whilst being handled which may increase the risk.

As seen in the definition above manual handling covers all work done by the use of bodily

force. Remember that pushing and pulling are included in the definition and should not

be overlooked.

“manual handling operations” means any

transporting or supporting of a load

(including the lifting, putting down, pushing,

pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand

or by bodily force.

Regulation 2(1)

Introduction to Manual Handling

SAMPLE


When assessing the risk from manual

handling, and then putting controls in place

to reduce any risks present, the principle of

“reasonably practicable” is used.

“Reasonably practicable” is a judgement

made when assessing risk and requires the

person making the judgement to have

sufficient knowledge of the task, be able to

see the real risks involved and also

experienced enough to be able to make the

judgement on “reasonably practicable”.

This judgement is critical to whether the

task has disproportionate, inadequate or

appropriate controls implemented

dependant on the level of understanding of

the task

The person making the assessment must be

able to understand the costs involved both in financial terms and in inconvenience and

relate these to the real risks involved in the task and achieve the balance between the

real risk and the cost of controls. Clearly this needs the person doing the assessment to

have a full practical knowledge of the task.

When a Manual Handling Risk Assessment is made a sensible approach to risk

management is needed, what would be regarded as “common sense” should be applied.

Definition:

“Reasonably practicable”

The principle of balancing the

seriousness of the risk and the

outcome of an accident with the

inconvenience and cost of control

measures. Low risk activities

should not have unnecessary,

inconvenient and costly controls

applied, but ones which are

appropriate. A high risk activity

must not have the controls

constrained by inconvenience or by

cost as the seriousness of the risk

and the severity of injury make the

controls necessary and

appropriate.

You would not put on a fire proof

overall and full face protection to

get the Sunday roast out of the

oven, you would use oven gloves

and roll your sleeves down, nor

would you expect a fire fighter to

enter a burning building in shorts

and a t shirt, you would expect

them to have appropriate safety

wear.

SAMPLE


Manual handling is an activity which requires physical

effort, normally this effort is through the arms. The arms

transfer the effort, through the shoulders to the torso, the

loads are transferred through the back to the pelvis then

the legs and finally to the floor.

The bones of the human skeleton are reasonably robust

and broken bones during manual handling activities are

quite rare. However, the same cannot be said for the

tissue of the human body and these are the parts of the

body normally damaged during manual handling .

The skeleton has tissue between the bones, tissue which

acts as joints where bones meet, tissue, ligaments and

tendons, which aligns and supports joints, postural

muscles which keep the body upright, after all you don’t

need to think to stand up and voluntary muscles used to cause the body to do everyday

things such as walking, sitting, driving etc. Additionally nerves run down the spine.

The back is the most susceptible part of the body to manual handling injuries. It is a

complex system of small sections of bones (vertebrae) and the pads between them

(discs) and associated muscles and tissue to support it and to cause it to move.

The most common mistake in manual handling is to bend over to lift and use the back as

a lever or to twist whilst lifting.

Manual Handling and the Human Body

SAMPLE


Muscles, Ligaments and tendons can suffer strains and sprains, more serious tears and

rips, discs can slip out of alignment, a “slipped disc” and cause nerves to become trapped,

quite often leading to “sciatica” where the sciatic nerve is trapped leading to phantom leg

pains. Additionally the skin and tissues can suffer bruises and cuts from the loads carried.

Injuries can be caused by both a single catastrophic event or by a repeated series of

minor events, repeated over a period of time. A catastrophic event would normally be

associated with handling something beyond an individual’s capacity whereas injury due

to repetition could be from an action which is within the individual’s capacity to perform

as an occasional action, but when repeated over time leads to injury as the body does not

recover from the effort of the action before the next action is performed. Repetitive

Strain Injuries can occur with surprisingly light tasks and lead to long term injury and

possible disability just as much as a one off action can.

The graph below shows the types of injuries which may be suffered.

Types of over three day injury 2001/02

Sprain/Strain (69%)

Laceration (11%)

Contusion (6%)

Superficial (4%)

Fracture (4%)

Other (6%)

Source: HSE; L23

SAMPLE


The preceding pie chart shows clearly that the principal injury sustained from manual

handling is a sprain or a strain which with the cuts and bruises added gives 86% of injuries

sustained.

The part of the body injured in manual handling accidents is shown below

It clearly shows that the back is the most frequently injured part of the body with just

under half of the injuries reported.

The act of manual handling presents differing risk of injury from person to person. All

people are different, they are individuals and as such there are no absolute prescriptive

limits on the weight which they are able to lift, although the HSE does give guideline

weights for both Males and Females.

There is a principle which is based on the way the human body works. This is shown on

the following diagram and is based on the charts produced by the HSE but with the

suggested weights removed.

Sites of over three day injuries 2001/02

Back (47%)

Finger (15%)

Upper Limb (11%)

Hand (6%)

Lower Limb (5%)

Other (16%)

Source: HSE; L23

SAMPLE


Close to the body, short reach, maximum handling capacity Further away from the body, longer reach, handling capacity decreases Maximum distance, at arms length, maximum reach, handling capacity at minimum The further away from the body the load , the greater the risk of injury. Within the green

zone the body has maximum mechanical advantage, lifting is done using the biceps and

the load is fed through the shoulder, upper arms basically parallel to the body, this means

little load on the shoulders and the weight is then fed into the spine. As the lifting moves

into the yellow zone the body loses mechanical advantage, the arms extend more, place

more load on the shoulders, and the back may begin to bend. This increases the risk of

injury. In the red zone there is little mechanical advantage, the biceps are not able to be

used to full advantage, the load is through the shoulders and when bent over the back is

likely to be used as a lever. This is further increases the risk of injury. The weights which

can be safely handled decrease with distance or the risk of injury increases.

SAMPLE


This principle applies to all, no matter how physically strong they may be. Additionally,

twisting lowers the capacity which the individual can safely handle This is shown on the

diagram overleaf along with the reduction on the loads given in percentages.

Where lifting from a stooped position and twisting is combined the risk of injury is

greatest. These types of tasks almost always require risk assessment to be made. When

the risk assessment is made it is important that it focuses on real risk and considers

repetition of the task and whether any there are any other factors such as poor posture

which affects the task.

When lifting is done while sitting down the principle already mentioned on the limitations

on the weights which can be handled are similar to standing in that the further away

from the body the person lifts, the greater the load experienced as mechanical advantage

is lost. Note that being seated significantly reduces the weights which can be handled.

Seated handling also introduces potential problems on posture, chair type etc.

20% 10%

SAMPLE


Manual Handling Hazards and Risks

(1) Each employer shall:

(b) where it is not reasonably practicable to avoid the

need for his employees to undertake any manual

handling operations at work which involve a risk of

their being injured

(i) make a suitable and sufficient assessment of all

such manual handling operations to be

undertaken by them, having regard to the factors

which are specified in column 1 of Schedule 1 to

these Regulations and considering the questions

which are specified in the corresponding entry in

column 2 of that Schedule,

(ii) take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of

injury to those employees arising out of their

undertaking any such manual handling operations

to the lowest level reasonably practicable, and

(iii) take appropriate steps to provide any of those

employees who are undertaking any such manual

handling operations with general indications and,

where it is reasonably practicable to do so,

precise information on –

(aa) the weight of each load, and

(bb) the heaviest side of any load whose centre of

gravity is not positioned centrally.

Regulation 4 (1) (b) SAMPLE


The risks from manual handling are from the following principal areas below, the

acronym is shown to the right. This is useful when doing a manual handling risk

assessment to remember the areas to be thought about.

The hazards presented by each of the above need to be considered in relation to the

assessment you are making. The task is the first area to consider and the following tables

give the areas to be thought about. It is important to think about who is doing the

manual handling, is there anything about them which is special, an obvious point to

consider would be have they any pre‐existing injuries. The Load is the next item, is it an

inanimate object or animate, one which could move or is it alive, an animal or a person?

Finally the environment in which the manual handling is to take place is to be thought

about. How does this affect the other three elements?

All these need to be thought about when making a Manual Handling Risk Assessment.

The Task

The Individual

The Load

The Environment

T

I

L

E

SAMPLE


The Task – does it involve ?

Stooping

Twisting

Reaching upwards

Lifting or lowering over distances

Carrying loads for long distances

Pushing or pulling – excessive effort

Need to position the load precisely

Risk of the load moving suddenly

Prolonged effort or frequent repetition of effort

Insufficient rest for recovery

Is the work rate imposed by a process

Is the work done seated

T

I The Individual – are they ?

Recently pregnant

Expecting

Have a pre‐existing injury

Old

Young

In need of specific training

Unusual capacity

Need to wear Personal Protective Equipment

Specific clothes for the task

SAMPLE


The Load – is it ?

Heavy

Bulky

Unweildy

Likely to block your view of where you’re going

Top heavy / side heavy

Difficult to grip / grasp

Contents likely to move or shift

Hot

Cold

Dangerous

L

E The Environment – is it ?

Slippery

Wet

Lack of space – stooping / twisting

Changes in level to negotiate

Poor or uneven floors

Poor lighting

Windy – particularly gusts

Poor atmosphere – lack of ventilation

Poor atmosphere – excessive heat / humidity

Poor atmosphere – cold

Use of temporary walkways / access equipment

Steep slopes SAMPLE


These factors are all part of the Manual Handling Risk Assessment which is to be made

where there is actual risk of harm. Adopt a common sense approach to when a risk

assessment is required. It is not for trivial risk but for real risk, though the less obvious

hazards should not be overlooked. The risk assessment is a structured way of looking at

the activity and working through the hazards and the risks they present along with

identifying suitable controls and recording these so they can be communicated to others.

The Manual Handling Risk Assessment should be made by a person with sufficient

practical knowledge including, a full knowledge of the Task, the Individual, the Load and

the Environment. This is most likely to be a member of the organisation such as an

employer, manager or supervisor who has actual first‐hand knowledge and experience of

the task.

Employees should be involved in the process as they actually do the task and should

contribute to the risk assessment proves, employees should be consulted as a matter of

routine on health and safety matters either individually , through nominated

representatives or in a structured way through safety committees. They can provide vital

information on how they actually do the work and how it may be made safer.

In some circumstances the contribution of others may be necessary in the risk

assessment process. Included in these are Safety Managers, Safety Professionals,

Occupational Health Professionals and Industrial Engineers.

SAMPLE


The depth and complexity of the risk assessment should be in proportion to the risk.

Simple risk assessments for simple and low risk activities, and longer more complex risk

assessments for higher risk activities. Always remember that the risk assessment needs

to be communicated to all those who do the task so it should be able to be understood by

them easily. The production of long and complex risk assessments which are not justified

by the actual risks present will have a negative effect on how employees see health and

safety.

The HSE guidance, L23, which can be downloaded from the HSE website free of charge

has a selection of forms which you may use for carrying out risk assessments.

Having stated the regulations applicable to employers, the regulations applicable to

employees are now given overleaf

SAMPLE


Each employee while at work shall make full and

proper use of any system of work provided for his

use by his employer in compliance with regulation

4(1)(b)(ii) of these Regulations.

Regulation 5

Employees must also

(a) take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their activities; and (b) co‐operate with their employers to enable them

to comply with their health and safety duties.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 7

Every employee shall use any machinery,

equipment, dangerous substance, transport

equipment, means of production or safety device

provided to him by his employer in accordance both

with any training in the use of the equipment

concerned which has been received by him and the

instructions respecting that use which have been

provided to him by the said employer in compliance

with the requirements and prohibitions imposed

upon that employer by or under the relevant

statutory provisions.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Reg. 14 (1) SAMPLE


Every employee shall inform his employer or any other employee of that employer with specific responsibility for the health and safety of his fellow employees‐

(a) of any work situation which a person with the first‐mentioned employee’s training and instruction would reasonably consider represented a serious and immediate danger to health and safety; and (b) of any matter which a person with the first‐mentioned employee’s training and instruction would reasonably consider represented a shortcoming in the employer’s protection arrangements for health and safety,

in so far as that situation or matter either

affects the health and safety of that first

mentioned employee or arises out of or in

connection with his own activities at work,

and has not previously been reported to his

employer or to any other employee of that

employer in accordance with this paragraph.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Reg. 14 (2) SAMPLE


When making the risk assessment using the four elements Task, Individual, Load and

Environment you will have identified those areas which cause concern. By focusing on

these areas and finding solutions to them

the risks can be reduced or possibly even

eliminated.

Some controls can be easy and simple to

introduce, such as splitting loads up, this

could be as simple as opening a box of A4

paper and carrying it one ream at a time,

or complex and require equipment and

training to use, such as the use of a

vacuum lift and counterbalance system to

lift items.

The use of a structured approach which

involves those who do the work will

almost always produce the best results and identify practical controls which can be

implemented. Even where it would seem not possible to avoid manual handling, and

mechanisation is not possible, it is still possible to introduce controls based on limiting

exposure to manual handling by job rotation and by scheduling the work to allow time for

those doing the manual handling to recuperate.

Some of the possible controls are shown on the following pages, based on the items to be

considered during a Manual Handling Risk Assessment

Reducing the Risk of Injury

Example

A task required the carrying of items

across a workshop to the next

workstation. This was identified in

the risk assessment. To prevent this

the work was altered to use a trolley

to move the items. This removed the

need to carry the items across the

workshop and the trolley was

purchased to be the correct height to

make lifting the item from the

workbench to the trolley at waist

level to prevent introducing an

additional hazard of lifting and

lowering. The trolley was selected to

have large wheels which made it

easy to push.

SAMPLE


The Task – does it involve ?

Stooping – Move to where you don’t need to stoop – minimise time stooping

Twisting – Move your position – Move the Work; redesign the task to remove need to twist

Reaching upwards – Lower the destination or use mechanical lift

Lifting or lowering over distances ‐ Redesign the work; use mechanical aids, hoist, lifting table

Carrying loads for long distances – Use a trolley, sackbarrow, put on a pallet and use a forklift or pallet truck

Pushing or pulling – excessive effort – Use skids, conveyer, proper wheeled trolley, reduce the weight

Need to position the load precisely – Use guides to aid positioning

Risk of the load moving suddenly – Secure the load; remove what may move suddenly

Prolonged effort or frequent repetition of effort – Reduce the weight so the repetition does not lead to fatigue or repetitive strain type injuries; more breaks; job rotation

Insufficient rest for recovery – More breaks; job rotation; redesign the task

Is the work rate imposed by a process – Give control of the speed to the operator; redesign the task

Is the work done seated – Carefully evaluate the ergonomics of the task

T

SAMPLE


I The Individual – are they ?

Recently pregnant – This must be covered in a specific risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 as a specific item; consider how this impacts on the other elements T, L, E

Expecting ‐ pregnant – This must be covered in a specific risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 as a specific item; consider how this impacts on the other elements T, L, E

Have a pre‐existing injury – You must take into account any pre‐existing injury as the task may cause this to reoccur

Old – Does the person’s age present any issues which need to be addressed

Young – Does their youth or inexperience put them at risk. They may need a specific Young Person’s Risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

In need of specific training – Does the task require specific training to be done safely

Unusual capacity – Is the task such that it needs a minimum capacity to do

Need to wear Personal Protective Equipment – Does personal protective equipment impact on the task; thick gloves reduce dexterity

Specific clothes for the task – Does the wearing of special clothes affect the task; Clothes to protect against heat or cold can be cumbersome

And restrict movement

SAMPLE


The Load – is it ?

Heavy – Look for the weight label or if you originate the item put a weight label on it; Can it be split up into sections; put on a trolley, forklift; lifted by machine

Bulky – Would it be better team handled or put on a trolley

Unweildy – Can it be split down; team handled or mechanically handled

Likely to block your view of where you’re going – Is it possible to use someone to guide you; team handled do both people can see

Top heavy / side heavy – Label the heavy side; look for the heavy this side label; Mechanise the handling

Difficult to grip / grasp – Wear gloves with grip on the palms and fingers – use a handle or grabs

Contents likely to move or shift – Can the contents be secured; team handle to make sure if it shifts the load can still be safely handled

Hot – Use grips, handle, mechanical means; reduce handling time; more breaks to avoid fatigue

Cold ‐ Use grips, handle, mechanical means; reduce handling time; more breaks to avoid cold affecting the muscles

Dangerous – Mechanical handling to be considered; pu the load in a spill resistant container – train in handling technique and precautions and provide Personal Protective Equipment

L

SAMPLE


E

SAMPLE


The possible controls in blue text are not exhaustive but provided to illustrate a range of

possible controls. Those actually applicable will depend on the task being assessed.

Where it is not possible to avoid having to manually handle a load, especially lifting a load

the use of good handling principles will assist in preventing injury.

The pictograms which follow show, step by step the principle of good lifting technique.

The procedure for lifting starts with assessing the load to be moved.

SAMPLE


Think first, plan how to handle the load, the route and The destination. Are there obstacles, stairs, etc. Assess the load. Visually check for any weight markings or indicators. Size is not always a reliable indicator of weight. Rock the load as shown to assess its weight Position the feet close to the load to keep the load close to the body. Lift with the leg muscles keeping the back straight and the chin looking ahead not down. This keeps the spine as straight as possible. Raise the load close to the body using the leg muscles keeping the back straight and looking ahead, again this keeps the spine as straight as possible.

Good Lifting Technique

SAMPLE


Walk with the load close to the body keeping the head looking forward and the back straight When placing the load lower using the legs rather than bending the back. This may mean placing the load closer to the edge of a surface and then manoeuvring into final position without risk of injury.

Don’t do it like these !!!

Using your back as a lever like the picture is

putting you at extreme risk of injury. It is not

advisable to lift anything in this manner

Do not twist and lift, especially like this,

reaching up, at arms‐length.

SAMPLE


Team lifting is one way that the load can be shared between a number of persons. This

has its hazards. Team lifting needs one person to control the lift and if the load blocks

the view of where the load is to go, or if there are obstacles, then an additional person

may be needed to guide the team.

When doing any kind of manual handling plan what you’re going to do, where you’re

going and how you’re going to get there. Consider whether doors need to be opened,

especially for team handling. Check if the narrow places, especially doorways are wide

enough, again especially important for team handling, can the load and the team pass

through? The last thing needed when manual handling is needing to put the load down to

open doors, reposition yourself relative to the load or find it won’t fit.

Where possible avoid manual handling or make it as easy as possible. Use mechanical

aids:

Mechanical aids need not be hi tech or

expensive, a simple sack barrow makes

moving loads much easier, push them

along with minimal effort

SAMPLE


For moving items placed on pallets the

pallet truck is useful though it does not

work well on rough or uneven floors and

is not easy to use where step changes in

level or slopes are to be negotiated

The forklift truck is powered and the

driver can lift and lower loads, pick them

up and transport over long distances. It

has limitations where crossing slopes is

required but rough terrain types are

available and these may be fitted with

various attachments.

SAMPLE


To assist in carrying flat items, such as glass, it is possible to obtain inexpensive handles

which attach by suction and make lifting easier than the cartoon below. Better still use a

trolley.

SAMPLE

basics of manual handling - hsm · pdf filepage 2 hsm safety management when assessing the...

Documents