Toolbox talk Brief #1 – Manual Handling Awareness

What is Manual Handling?

Manual handling refers to any activity requiring the use of force by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, hold or restrain an object. We inherently understand how to lift from a very young age however as we get older, we can forget this knowledge to the degree that lifting an object can cause serious and painful injury.

When manual handling is hazardous?

Manual handling is considered hazardous when movements:

• Are repetitive or sustained 
• Involve heavy or awkward weights 
• Require the use of sudden force 
• Require sustained or awkward postures 
• Include exposure to vibration 

Poor manual handling can lead to serious injuries

There is sometimes a perception that a job just must get done. This can result in rushing or corners being cut sometimes ignoring an obvious risk. As a result, manual handling injuries occur common examples of which include: 

• Strains and sprains of the hands and wrists because of repetitive movement 
• Serious back injuries because a weight is heavy, awkward to hold and handled away from the body 
• Shoulder strains from handling weights above and away from the shoulder 

Some of these injuries have short term consequences while others can have a permanent and debilitating effect that can impact upon a person’s social, financial or psychological wellbeing.

How to prevent injuries?

Lifting technique reducing the risk of injury through correct lifting technique when required to lift an object generally requires 8 steps: 

1. Ensure your path is clear 
2. Bend your knees 
3. Hold the load close to your body 
4. Take a firm hold of the load 
5. Keep your feet shoulder width apart 
6. Brace your stomach muscles 
7. Lift the load in a smooth motion 
8. Do not twist your back, use your feet  

When faced with a hazardous lift consider if:

• Equipment is available to reduce the effort required 
• More people are around to help you lift 
• You can delay lifting an object until equipment or more people are available
• There are any potential long-term solutions that can eliminate or help reduce the need to lift an object again

Feedback is always essential!

At the end of your brief, always get engaged with your team, ask them questions, get answers, make sure that every single member of your team is aware of how to control the hazards and subsequently to minimise the risk of injuries.

If you are in need of proper assessment of your work place conditions get in contact with us at HSE Smart Solutions Ltd..