safety in manual handling operations supermarkets · occupational safety and health branch labour...

Occupational Safety and Health BranchLabour Department

03/2003-2-0HB71


SupermarketsSupermarketsSafety in Manual Handling OperationsSafety in Manual Handling OperationsSafety in Manual Handling Operations

Printed by the Government Logistics Department

This guidebook is prepared by theOccupational Safety and Health BranchLabour Department

This edition March 2003

This guidebook is issued free of charge and can be obtained fromoffices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the LabourDepartment. It can also be downloaded from the website of the LabourDepartment at http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_9.htm.For enquiries about addresses and telephone numbers of the offices,please call 2559 2297.

This booklet may be freely reproduced except for advertising,endorsement or commercial purposes. Please acknowledge the sourceas “Safety in Manual Handling Operations Supermarkets”, publishedby the Labour Department.

Are you the injured party? ________________________ 1

Common causes of manual handling injuries _____ 3

Tips for safe manual handling _____________________ 5

Further information ______________________________ 11

Appendix Correct Lifting Method in General ____ 12

Contents

Ah Keung has been a supermarket storekeeper for nearly eight years. He sustainedback injury at work and has been unable to work for nearly one year. This is whathe says:

“On that day, I was working in the supermarket as usual. Since no stepladder or stool was provided, I had to stretch my arms in order to stack thegoods on the top shelves. Unfortunately, my back was accidentally injuredin the process. I still remember how painful I felt. I was unable to sleep atnight. After that, I went through a course of physiotherapy treatment. Ithas been almost one year since I was injured. I have not yet fully recovered.Although I could receive compensation for the injury, my condition is stillnot quite normal. The accident not only makes me incapable of working forquite some time with less income but also affects my family life andrelationships with friends. I am now unable to hold my baby and cannotplay in my favourite sports.”

Are you the injured party

1

� Use Correct Lifting Posture

2. Bend knees, squat down,straddle the load and keepback straight.

3. Grasp object firmly. Ensurethat your grip will not slip.

4. Hold object close to body,lift with legs - slowlystraighten the legs. Afterlegs are straight bring theback to a vertical position.

5. A l w a y s l i f tsmoothly. Avoidj e r k y mot ions .Turn with feet andnever twist theback.

1. Start close to the object.

13

You probably will sympathize with Ah Keung. However, the accident also affectshis employer, Mr. Ho. This is what he says:

“Our company suffered a great deal from Ah Keungís accident. After he wasinjured, work was delayed. Also, we had to recruit and retrain a person toreplace an experienced worker. Moreover, Ah Keungís medical bills andpayments due to temporary incapacity also cost the company a lot. We arealso worried about the possibility of a huge civil claims and damage to theimage of our company.”

Whether you are an employer or employee, have you ever imagined that this mighthappen to you? In fact, the incident could have been completely avoided. Manualhandling operations are now covered under the Occupational Safety and HealthRegulation*. Both employers and employees have a duty to follow the requirementsof this regulation and carry out manual handling operations safely.

If you do not want to be the injured party in a similar incident, read on. We willanalyse the main causes of injuries, and you can implement appropriate preventivemeasures by following this guidebook#.

*Note 1: For more details concerning this regulation, please refer to the regulation itself or anotherpublication of the Labour Department namely, “Guidance Notes on Manual Handling Operations”.

#Note 2: The incorrect postures and poor work practices illustrated in this publication help readers understandthe problems in manual handling and adopt appropriate control measures. These illustrations DONOT represent that the organizations, companies or persons use such incorrect postures and poorwork practices in their work activities.

2

� Think First� work out a safe carrying procedure

according to the size, shape and weightof the object ;

� clear corridor or passageway ofobstructions;

� use appropriate personal protectiveequipment;

� use mechanical aids or get help if thereis any doubt.

Work out a safe carrying procedure ac-cording to the size, shape and weightof the object.

Use mechanical aids or get help if thereis any doubt.

AppendixCorrect Lifting Method in General

12

� overloading the upper and lower back. For example:� lifting or holding heavy items;

� improper posture during work. For example:� stooping;� reaching upwards;� bending sideways;� twisting;

Avoid bending sideways.

Avoid bending forward.

Avoid reaching above your shoulders.

Common causes ofmanual handling injuries

Avoid twisting the back.

3

Further information

11

Slippery surfaces increase the risk ofmanual handling operations.

Cramped conditions hinder the adoptionof good manual handling posture.

� moving loads away from thetrunk;

� loss of balance while lifting;

� unexpected weight bearing;

� restricted room to manoeuvre;

� insecure gr ip on heavy,awkward, hot, cold, sharp orslippery objects;

� slippery, uneven floors orobs t ru c t i ons a long thetransport routes;

� uncoordinated team lifting orshifting weight to one party;

� lifting beyond capability;

� f r equen t o r p ro longedrepetitive movements, such asstooping, twisting the trunk,stretching, twisting the wristor neck;

� working hastily;

� insufficient rest or time torecover.

4

For further information or assistance, please contact the Occupational Safety andHealth Branch of the Labour Department through:

Address: 15/F., Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central

Telephone: 2852 4041

Fax: 2581 2049

E-mail: [email protected]

on the services offered by the Labour Department and on major labourlegislation can also be found by visiting our Home Page on the Internet. Address ofour Home Page is http://www.labour.gov.hk.

Information on the services provided by the Occupational Safety & Health Councilcan be obtained through their hotline 2739 9000.

Occupational safety and health complaint hotline:

If you have any complaint about unsafe workplaces and practices, please call theLabour Department’s occupational safety and health complaint hotline at 2542 2172.

Information

� Other matters� avoid wearing clothes that are too tight and provide well-fitted personal

protective equipment which will not affect correct posture and movement;

� ensure that mechanical aids such as trolley wheels are regularly maintainedand repaired to reduce the effort required during use.

Poorly maintained trolley wheels require greater effort to operate.

10

Tips for safe manual handling

� The tasks� use correct posture to lift or

lower goods (please refer toAppendix);

� make use of mechanical aids,such as trolleys, conveyor beltsor lifts to ease the handling ofgoods;

� work at the correct height. Theheight of workstations shouldallow most of the work to beperformed at around elbow level.Using height- adjustable chairs canprevent stooping; using stable footplatforms can prevent reachingupwards;

� avoid repetitive handling of loadsbetween delivery, storage anddisplay; stock can be moveddirectly from delivery to display toreduce the need to handle stockrepeatedly;

� arrange work distribution in teamlifting correctly. Every membershould obey the instructions of theteam leader;

� store heavy or frequently useditems in a position where they canbe easily reached in shelf stocking.The optimum position is aroundwaist height;

Making use of mechanical aids can reduce theeffort required during manual handling.

Making use of a bench top or a trolley of suitableheight can reduce the need for bending.

Reduce manual handling by using originalproduct cartons for display purposes.

5

Health and safety training should be provided to employees.

� Individual capability� assess the physique of employees and assign them with suitable manual

handling operations based on their capabilities;

� provide employees with health and safety training so that manual handlingoperations can be safely performed.

9

� improve the design of workstations andposition frequently used materials infront of employees to reduce the needof twisting or stretching the body;

� do not stack goods too high duringtransportation to avoid blocking thefront view, which will increase the riskof hitting objects or tripping;

� give employees a variety of tasks orprovide them with sufficient recoverytime to avoid prolonged repetitivemovements;

� working at an appropriate pace canrelieve muscle strain and reduce thechance of hand and wrist injuries;

� do not push a number of trolleyssimultaneously to reduce effort anddifficulties in managing them;

� use automatic system to reduce theneed for manual handling and makeoperations more efficient.

Pushing a number of trolleys simultaneouslyincreases the potential for injury.

Stacking goods too high will increasethe risk of injury during transportation.

6

� The working environment� provide sufficient space for manoeuvring

in manual handling;

� keep the transport routes clear ofobstructions, spilled water, oil orslippery substances which increase thelikelihood of slips, trips and falls;

� improve uneven or unstable floors;

� if prolonged standing is required, placea shock absorbent mat on the floor tomitigate leg muscle fatigue, or ifpossible provide a high chair foremployees so that they can sit down towork;

� maintain temperature and humidity at asatisfactory level in the workplace. Ifmanual handling is performed in a coldarea, proper personal protective clothingsshould be provided and used;

� provide adequate ventilation. Beware ofstrong winds and powerful ventilationsystems which may make handling of largeloads unsafe;

� provide sufficient lighting to reduce therisk of hitting objects and tripping.

Keeping the transport routes clear ofobstructions and providing sufficientspace help employees to use trolleys formanual handling.

Proper personal protective clothingsshould be used if manual handling iscarried out in a cold store.

8

� The loads� make the goods lighter, change

their size or shape, or makethem easier to grasp by addinghandholds or hand grips;

� make the goods less damagingto hold. Avoid sharp corners,jagged edges, and surfaces thatare too hot, cold or rough;

� provide suitable protective glovesfor handling goods that are difficultto hold;

� place the goods in stable positionso that they wi l l not shi f tunexpectedly while being handled;

� provide sufficient information onthe goods, such as the weight andthe heavier side.

Heavy loads can be divided into lighter packages.

Fitting handholds on containers is a very simpleway of improving material handling.

Put the goods in stable position so that they willnot shift unexpectedly while being handled.

7

Health and safety training should be provided to employees.

� Individual capability� assess the physique of employees and assign them with suitable manual

handling operations based on their capabilities;

� provide employees with health and safety training so that manual handlingoperations can be safely performed.

9

� improve the design of workstations andposition frequently used materials infront of employees to reduce the needof twisting or stretching the body;

� do not stack goods too high duringtransportation to avoid blocking thefront view, which will increase the riskof hitting objects or tripping;

� give employees a variety of tasks orprovide them with sufficient recoverytime to avoid prolonged repetitivemovements;

� working at an appropriate pace canrelieve muscle strain and reduce thechance of hand and wrist injuries;

� do not push a number of trolleyssimultaneously to reduce effort anddifficulties in managing them;

� use automatic system to reduce theneed for manual handling and makeoperations more efficient.

Pushing a number of trolleys simultaneouslyincreases the potential for injury.

Stacking goods too high will increasethe risk of injury during transportation.

6

� Other matters� avoid wearing clothes that are too tight and provide well-fitted personal

protective equipment which will not affect correct posture and movement;

� ensure that mechanical aids such as trolley wheels are regularly maintainedand repaired to reduce the effort required during use.

Poorly maintained trolley wheels require greater effort to operate.

10

Tips for safe manual handling

� The tasks� use correct posture to lift or

lower goods (please refer toAppendix);

� make use of mechanical aids,such as trolleys, conveyor beltsor lifts to ease the handling ofgoods;

� work at the correct height. Theheight of workstations shouldallow most of the work to beperformed at around elbow level.Using height- adjustable chairs canprevent stooping; using stable footplatforms can prevent reachingupwards;

� avoid repetitive handling of loadsbetween delivery, storage anddisplay; stock can be moveddirectly from delivery to display toreduce the need to handle stockrepeatedly;

� arrange work distribution in teamlifting correctly. Every membershould obey the instructions of theteam leader;

� store heavy or frequently useditems in a position where they canbe easily reached in shelf stocking.The optimum position is aroundwaist height;

Making use of mechanical aids can reduce theeffort required during manual handling.

Making use of a bench top or a trolley of suitableheight can reduce the need for bending.

Reduce manual handling by using originalproduct cartons for display purposes.

5

Further information

11

Slippery surfaces increase the risk ofmanual handling operations.

Cramped conditions hinder the adoptionof good manual handling posture.

� moving loads away from thetrunk;

� loss of balance while lifting;

� unexpected weight bearing;

� restricted room to manoeuvre;

� insecure gr ip on heavy,awkward, hot, cold, sharp orslippery objects;

� slippery, uneven floors orobs t ru c t i ons a long thetransport routes;

� uncoordinated team lifting orshifting weight to one party;

� lifting beyond capability;

� f r equen t o r p ro longedrepetitive movements, such asstooping, twisting the trunk,stretching, twisting the wristor neck;

� working hastily;

� insufficient rest or time torecover.

4

For further information or assistance, please contact the Occupational Safety andHealth Branch of the Labour Department through:

Address: 15/F., Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central

Telephone: 2852 4041

Fax: 2581 2049

E-mail: [email protected]

on the services offered by the Labour Department and on major labourlegislation can also be found by visiting our Home Page on the Internet. Address ofour Home Page is http://www.labour.gov.hk.

Information on the services provided by the Occupational Safety & Health Councilcan be obtained through their hotline 2739 9000.

Occupational safety and health complaint hotline:

If you have any complaint about unsafe workplaces and practices, please call theLabour Department’s occupational safety and health complaint hotline at 2542 2172.

Information

� Think First� work out a safe carrying procedure

according to the size, shape and weightof the object ;

� clear corridor or passageway ofobstructions;

� use appropriate personal protectiveequipment;

� use mechanical aids or get help if thereis any doubt.

Work out a safe carrying procedure ac-cording to the size, shape and weightof the object.

Use mechanical aids or get help if thereis any doubt.

AppendixCorrect Lifting Method in General

12

� overloading the upper and lower back. For example:� lifting or holding heavy items;

� improper posture during work. For example:� stooping;� reaching upwards;� bending sideways;� twisting;

Avoid bending sideways.

Avoid bending forward.

Avoid reaching above your shoulders.

Common causes ofmanual handling injuries

Avoid twisting the back.

3

� Use Correct Lifting Posture

2. Bend knees, squat down,straddle the load and keepback straight.

3. Grasp object firmly. Ensurethat your grip will not slip.

4. Hold object close to body,lift with legs - slowlystraighten the legs. Afterlegs are straight bring theback to a vertical position.

5. A l w a y s l i f tsmoothly. Avoidj e r k y mot ions .Turn with feet andnever twist theback.

1. Start close to the object.

13

You probably will sympathize with Ah Keung. However, the accident also affectshis employer, Mr. Ho. This is what he says:

“Our company suffered a great deal from Ah Keungís accident. After he wasinjured, work was delayed. Also, we had to recruit and retrain a person toreplace an experienced worker. Moreover, Ah Keungís medical bills andpayments due to temporary incapacity also cost the company a lot. We arealso worried about the possibility of a huge civil claims and damage to theimage of our company.”

Whether you are an employer or employee, have you ever imagined that this mighthappen to you? In fact, the incident could have been completely avoided. Manualhandling operations are now covered under the Occupational Safety and HealthRegulation*. Both employers and employees have a duty to follow the requirementsof this regulation and carry out manual handling operations safely.

If you do not want to be the injured party in a similar incident, read on. We willanalyse the main causes of injuries, and you can implement appropriate preventivemeasures by following this guidebook#.

*Note 1: For more details concerning this regulation, please refer to the regulation itself or anotherpublication of the Labour Department namely, “Guidance Notes on Manual Handling Operations”.

#Note 2: The incorrect postures and poor work practices illustrated in this publication help readers understandthe problems in manual handling and adopt appropriate control measures. These illustrations DONOT represent that the organizations, companies or persons use such incorrect postures and poorwork practices in their work activities.

2


03/2003-2-0HB71


SupermarketsSupermarketsSafety in Manual Handling OperationsSafety in Manual Handling OperationsSafety in Manual Handling Operations

Printed by the Government Logistics Department

safety in manual handling operations supermarkets · occupational safety and health branch labour...

Documents