Manual Handling Awareness

Presentation Objects

Definition of Manual Handling

Potential Hazards and Consequences
Risk Assessment
Proper Lifting Principals
Mechanical Aids
Summary
Definition of Manual Handling

Manual Handling includes the lifting, lowering, carrying,

pushing or pulling of loads by bodily force.
Potential Hazards and Consequences

What could possible go wrong

while manually moving
equipment?
How bad could that be?
Who would that affect?
Potential Hazards and Consequences

A musculoskeletal disorder is
simply an injury or disorder to
the human body’s
musculoskeletal(or movement)
system.

The musculoskeletal system is

made up of tendons, ligaments,
nerves, soft tissue, etc. and is
designated to enable your body
to move.
Risk Factors

Ergonomic Risk Factors related to the work environment.

 What Risk Factors are you exposed to?
Primary Ergonomic Risk Factors

Work Environment:
 High Repetition Task: Many work task and cycles are
repetitive in nature, and are frequently controlled by
hourly or daily production targets and work practices.

 Excessive Force: Many work tasks require high force

loads on the human body.

 Awkward Posture: Place excess force on the joints and

overload on the muscles and tendons around the effected
joint.
Organization Work Practices

Design safe jobs and work place practices by

considering the following:
 Duration and Frequency
 Load weight
 Work rates and job demands
 Mix of activity and breaks
 Working hours
 Special individual needs
Work Area and Layout

Frequently used items at waist level can

reduce poor actions and postures.
Risk Factors

Individual Risk Factors:

 Risk Factors related to the individual themselves.
 These personal choices can potentially lead to injuries.
Primary Individual Risk Factors

Poor Work Practices: Individuals who use poor work

practices, body mechanics and lifting techniques.

Poor Self Habits: Develop when fatigue outruns the

individuals recovery system.

Poor Health Habits: Workers who smoke, drink

excessively, are obese, or exhibit numerous other poor
health habits are putting themselves at risk for not only
musculoskeletal disorders.
Hierarchy of Control

As with other risks in the

workplace, the first rule
is to look for a way to
avoid the need for
manual handling.
Risk Assessment

The Control of Work Process must be used to control

manual handling hazards at the work site.

The purpose of the assessment is to identify and then

reduce the overall level of risk of the task. You need to put
measures in place to control the risks you have identified.
Prevention

“LITE” is an acronym that helps you to carry out a

Manual Handling Risk Assessment. It is designed to make
you consider each essential area of the task you are
doing in order to improve health & safety in the workplace.
The acronym stands for:
 Load
 Individual
 Task
 Environment
Manual Handling Considerations

 Physical capabilities of personnel performing the task

 Frequency and repetition of the task
 Weight, shape, size and balance of the load
 Position of fingers, hands and feet
 Area where the task will be performed
 “Line of Fire” hazards, if the load should move, slide or fall
Five Steps for Proper Lifting Technique

•K
Proper Lifting Technique
Manual Handling Operations Requirements

Loads being carried must

be supported where
possible at waist height and
close to the body. The
maximum allowable load for
one person should not
exceed 50lbs (22.7Kgs).
Manual Handling Equipment Requirements

The maximum load to be

L carried on a stairway should
be limited to 25lbs.

Carrying items on stairs must

be avoided whenever practical.
When stairs are to be used one
hand must remain free at all
times and used to maintain
contact with the handrail.

Loads carried in purpose made

backpacks, tool bags and tool
belts may exceed 25lbs.
Manual Handling Operations Requirements

Exceptions to this requirement, where a greater

maximum load is permissible, are for the following:
Personal baggage to/from the helideck and in the
accommodation.
Manual Handling by More Than One Person

The maximum load should be limited to 100lbs.

The load should be distributed such that the weight is evenly
distributed.

Consideration must be given to partnering people of similar

physical build and strength, to prevent unbalanced loads
and ensure equal sharing of the weight of the load.
Hands-Free

All personnel must consider

using lifting equipment to lift
and move loads hands free,
for example:
 Cranes
 Hoists
 Trolley Beams
Hands-Free

Where lifting equipment cannot be used, the following

manual handling aids must be considered to support
posture and body position:
 Drum and sack trolley
 Roller conveyor or lift tables
 Lift Mates
 Use of bags and backpacks
Summary

Encourage opportunities to
eliminate manual handling.
Ensure all practical
alternatives to manual
handling are considered.
Control of Work Process must
be applied.
Ensure Manual Handling aids
are available.