7 steps to achieve good manual handling techniques
- Plan your lift.
- Position your feet.
- Ensure a good posture.
- Maintain a firm grip.
- Lift smoothly.
- Keeping close to the load.
- Put it down… then adjust it.
What is manual handling?
As an employer, you must protect your workers from the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling in the workplace. Manual handling means transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. It includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving loads.
What are 5 examples of manual handling?
Manual handling refers to any activity requiring the use of force by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, hold or restrain something. Putting boxes on shelves, painting, gardening, cleaning, writing and typing are some examples of manual handling tasks.
What are 5 manual handling hazards?
Risk Management and Hazardous Manual Tasks
- Moving, transporting, transferring clients.
- Repetitive movements.
- Lifting and carrying materials and equipment.
- Working at incorrect heights.
- Lack of physical space.
- Heavy physical work.
- Poor workplace design.
- Poor postures and actions.
What part of the body is mostly affected by poor manual handling techniques?
The back is particularly vulnerable to manual handling injuries. Safety suggestions include controlling risk factors in the workplace, in addition to personal controls: Lift and carry heavy loads correctly by keeping the load close to the body and lifting with the thigh muscles.
What can be done to prevent manual handling injuries?
As a result MSD should be taken seriously and must be prevented by managing the risks and dangers associated with manual handling. There are a number of factors which affect the risk of a manual handling injury occurring.
What are the factors that affect manual handling?
There are a number of factors which affect the risk of a manual handling injury occurring. The 4 main factors are the load (object), the work, the environment and the person. By pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying a load you are exposing yourself to the risk of a manual handling injury. Here are factors you need to look out for:
Why do you need a manual handling risk assessment?
If this is not possible then steps should be taken to reduce the risk of injury from manual handling and lifting tasks to the lowest practicable level. A manual handling risk assessment will help to identify the risks posed by the manual handling tasks and the steps that can be taken to reduce the risks.
Do you have to be trained in manual handling?
Workers must be trained in correct techniques for manual handling jobs. No one should lift something that is too heavy for them. Lift with the legs, not the back. (Re)design the workplace to minimise manual handling risks.
