2. Outline
• What is manual handling?
What is manual handling?
• What are the risks of manual handling?
What are the risks of manual handling?
• What makes manual handling hazardous?
What makes manual handling hazardous?
• How can the risks be managed?
How can the risks be managed?
o S.M.A.R.T lifting
o Team lifting
o Pushing and pulling
o Manual handling of people
o Safe storage
• Available supports and resources
Available supports and resources
3. What is Manual Handling?
Manual Manual handling is any activity requiring the use of
force, exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull or carry or
otherwise move, hold or restrain an object, person or animal.
handling is any activity requiring the use of force, exerted by
a person to lift, lower, push, pull or carry or otherwise move,
hold or restrain an object, person or animal.
4. Example Manual Handling Tasks
• Carrying large number of books
Carrying large number of books
• Lifting and moving sport equipment
Lifting and moving sport equipment
• Storing and retrieving boxes above or below shoulder height
Storing and retrieving boxes above or below shoulder height
• Moving furniture
Moving furniture
• Typing at an incorrectly set-up
Typing at an incorrectly set-up
workstation
workstation
• Hanging art work /poster
Hanging art work /poster
5. What are the risks?
Manual handling injuries make up
Manual handling injuries make up
approximately 10% of total injuries
approximately 10% of total injuries
occurring in Department workplaces.
occurring in Department workplaces.
6. What are the risks?
Work related musculoskeletal
Work related musculoskeletal
disorders can occur as a result
disorders can occur as a result
of:
of:
• repeated damage or strain
repeated damage or strain
• a single case of overburdening
a single case of overburdening
WMSD may include injuries to:
WMSD may include injuries to:
• Muscles
Muscles
• Ligaments
Ligaments
• Intervertebral disc
Intervertebral disc
• Nerves
Nerves
• Tendons in the wrist, arms,
Tendons in the wrist, arms,
shoulders, neck or legs
shoulders, neck or legs
Bones and muscle while flexing
Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Nervous System
7. What are the risks?
The spine in its normal S-curve
The spine in its normal S-curve
shape is very flexible, but is easily
shape is very flexible, but is easily
affected by movements which are:
affected by movements which are:
forceful, awkward, asymmetrical and
forceful, awkward, asymmetrical and
or jerky, especially if the back is
or jerky, especially if the back is
bent or twisted while moving.
bent or twisted while moving.
Carrying a large or heavy load while
Carrying a large or heavy load while
the back is not in its normal S-curve
the back is not in its normal S-curve
shape puts much more strain on the
shape puts much more strain on the
discs between the vertebrae.
discs between the vertebrae.
Normal Disk Bulging Disk
8. When does it become hazardous?
Task Individual
Load Environment
Too Strenuous Awkward Postures
Too Heavy Too Large
Individual Physical
Capacity
Training/Supervision
Climate (heat / cold,
ventilation etc.) Available Space
9. 1.
1. IDENTIFY MANUAL HANDLING TASKS
IDENTIFY MANUAL HANDLING TASKS
• Talk to colleagues
Talk to colleagues
• Conduct a walk through the workplace
Conduct a walk through the workplace
2.
2. ASSESS THE LEVEL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH
ASSESS THE LEVEL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH
THE TASK
THE TASK
• Document manual handling in the OHS
Document manual handling in the OHS
Risk
Risk
Register
Register
• Complete risk assessment where the
Complete risk assessment where the
tasks or level
tasks or level
of risk is uncertain
of risk is uncertain
3.
3. IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT CONTROLS
IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT CONTROLS
• Talk to colleagues undertaking task
Talk to colleagues undertaking task
• Implement risk controls
Implement risk controls
• Document risk controls
Document risk controls
• Report all manual handling incidents on
Report all manual handling incidents on
eduSafe
eduSafe
What do you have to do?
14. S.M.A.R.T Lifting
Lifting a 4kg load held 6cm in front of the body
requires about the same effort as lifting a 12kg
load held 20cm in front of the body.
15. Team Lifting
Consider:
Consider:
• Are there enough people?
Are there enough people?
• Are all persons of the same
Are all persons of the same
size with similar strength?
size with similar strength?
• Are there any known pre-
Are there any known pre-
existing injuries?
existing injuries?
• Who is coordinating the lift?
Who is coordinating the lift?
• Is there a plan, and has been
Is there a plan, and has been
communicated to those
communicated to those
involved?
involved?
16. Pushing and Pulling
Consider:
Consider:
• When pushing, lean forward
When pushing, lean forward
• Stand close to the trolley
Stand close to the trolley
• When pulling, lean backwards (pushing is
When pulling, lean backwards (pushing is
preferable as it involves less work by the
preferable as it involves less work by the
lower back muscles and allows for maximum
lower back muscles and allows for maximum
use of body weight). It allows employees to
use of body weight). It allows employees to
adopt a forward-facing posture, providing
adopt a forward-facing posture, providing
clearer vision in the direction of travel
clearer vision in the direction of travel
• Ensuring you have a good grip
Ensuring you have a good grip
• Avoiding twisting and turning
Avoiding twisting and turning
• Checking that the handle height is between
Checking that the handle height is between
shoulder and waist height
shoulder and waist height
17. Manual Handling of People
No lift policy is best, use equipment and the
student’s own ability to avoid unnecessary
manual handling. Always follow Behaviour
Support Plans for individuals who cannot assist
with their own movement.
18. Consider:
Consider:
• Storing frequently and heavy items between waist
Storing frequently and heavy items between waist
and shoulder height
and shoulder height
• Storing smaller, lightweight or infrequently used
Storing smaller, lightweight or infrequently used
items in lower or higher areas
items in lower or higher areas
• Knowing shelving weight limits
Knowing shelving weight limits
• Having access to a step-ladder
Having access to a step-ladder
• Testing the weight of the object before picking it up
Testing the weight of the object before picking it up
• Conducting quarterly workplace inspections
Conducting quarterly workplace inspections
Safe Storage
