Manual Handling Techniques

Safety Procedures

  ROOM RISK ASSESSMENT

  FIRE PROCEDURES
Brief Introductions

  NAME

  COMPANY

  OCCUPATION
Manual Handling

Course Aims
• To raise awareness of correct manual
handling techniques and provide a greater
understanding of how to prevent injury.
Manual Handling - Objectives

• Be aware of the legislation relating to manual

handling
• Be aware of the types of physical injury that can
happen to the body and the causes of back pain
associated with poor manual handling techniques
• Understand the structure and functions of the spine
• Understand the correct method of lifting and handling
• Be able to demonstrate a ‘base movement’
EXERCISE

Prepare a list of the

type of activities that
you would expect to
see in the Regulations
covering Manual
Handling
What is Manual Handling?

• As defined in Regulation 2 of the the Manual

Handling Operations Regulations 1992 :
• “Manual Handling is the supporting or transporting of
a load (i.e. pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, moving
or putting down) by hand or bodily force”
What is a Load?

• “A load …. is a
discrete, movable
object. This
includes for example
humans, animals
and material
supported on a
shovel or fork”
 Health & Safety Law

Health and Safety standards are enforceable under;

Civil Law Criminal Law
• Employer has a duty to • Set by parliament;
provide employees with a • Breach can involve prosecution
reasonable standard of and possible imprisonment.
care. Injured employees
• Law enforced by the Health and
may sue an employer in
Safety Executive and Local
court for damages if
Authority Inspectors who can
injured at work arising
prosecute companies and
from the negligence of the
individuals who break the law.
employer
• Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992
 Civil Action - An Example

CLARK v METROPOLITAN POLICE 1999

• Oct 94, Fiona Clark (a civilian office worker) suffered a severe back
injury while lifting and carrying heavy boxes of stationery up
staircases at Notting Hill Police Station
• No risk assessment had been carried out and no suitable manual
handling training had been given
• Ms Clark sued for compensation (tort of negligence) at Milton Keynes
County Court in 1999
• The Judge found in favour of Ms Clark and awarded her damages of:
£384, 497
Statutory Law

• Two levels of legal duty that feature in the Manual

Handling Operations Regulations:
Absolute Duty (Shall be done)
Reasonably Practicable

The extent of the employer’s

duties to avoid manual
handling or to reduce the risk of
injury is determined by what is
COST RISK
“reasonably practicable”
Employers Duties

Hierarchy of Measures:
AVOID hazardous manual handling operations so far as is
reasonably practicable;
ASSESSany hazardous manual handling operations that
cannot be avoided and;
REDUCE the risk of injury ‘so far as is reasonable
practicable’

• Undertake Risk Assessments (incl. review & monitoring)

• Provide details of the weight characteristics of loads
Employees Duties

• Reg 5 of the Manual Handling

Operations Regs. 1992 states that:

“Each employee at work shall make

full and proper use of any system
of work provided for his use by his
employer.”
 Exercise
With reference this
slide identify on the
figure which types
of injury could occur
to an individual
when carrying out a
manual handling
task?
Some Good Reasons for Lifting Correctly
HSE Accident Data

HSE Accident Data

 AMEC Group
1999 UK RIDDOR Accidents by Type
Plant/Equipment
10%
Manual Handling
22%

Work Environment
21%

<Other>
5%
Collapse/Overturn
1%
Falls and Slips
41%
 AMEC Group
1999 UK All Recorded Accidents
Part of Body Injured
Finger
Eye
Hand
1200 Leg/hip
Back
1000 Arm/Shoulder
Face/neck
800 Ankle
Foot
600 Head
Wrist
Multiple
400 Chest
<Other>
200 Abdomen
Respiratory System
0 General
Digestive System
 AMEC Group
1999 UK RIDDOR Accidents
Part of Body Injured
Back
60 Leg/hip
Ankle
Arm/Shoulder
50 Finger
Hand
40 Foot
Multiple
30 Wrist
Chest
20 Head
Eye
10 Face/neck
Abdomen
0 <Other>
 Health and Safety Executive
Accident Statistics - Manual Handling

HSE Accident Statistics

 Health and Safety Executive
Accident Statistics - Manual Handling

HSE Accident Statistics

Group Exercise

• Think of circumstances when you or someone you

know suffered a back injury (at work/ or at home)

Discuss and list in your groups:

• How it happened?
• What were the consequences
of the injury?
• How the injury could have
been avoided?
Manual Handling - Effects on Human Body
The Spine

• The shape of the spine consists of 4

defined curves:
1. The Cervical (Neck) Curve 7 Vertebrae

2. The Thoracic (Chest) Curve 12

Vertebrae

3. The Lumbar (Low Back) Curve 5

Vertebrae

4. The Sacrum (Tailbone) Curve

• The Coccyx (End Tip of Spine)
 Group Exercise

• List 4 functions of the Human

Spine
Main Functions of the Human Spine

Four main functions:

• To ensure flexibility for the upper body;
• To act as a point of attachment for muscles, nerves
etc.;
• To protect the spinal cord and the nerves;
• To give support for the body and any additional loads
imposed on it.
Structure of the Spine

• Each Vertebrae is held together by a

‘flexible’ cushion of tissue called an
Intervertebral Disc
• Each vertebrae has a hole in the
centre which forms a tunnel along the
length of the spine (Spinal Canal)
which contains the Spinal Cord.
• There is a pair of nerves on either
side of the cord which are attached to
the spine and emerge from the spinal
cord between each pair of vertebrae.
 Intervertebral Disc

• This is made up of a strong fibrous layer called the Annulus with a

soft jelly-like inner layer called the Nucleus.
It’s main functions are:
• To act as a shock absorber, to cushion and spread the load evenly
over the surface of the vertebral bodies
• To form a strong connection
between each vertebra
• To allow movement between each
vertebrae whilst at the same time
controlling the extent of movement
with other ligaments
Prolapsed Disc (Slipped Disc)

• Caused by the annulus cracking

allowing part or all of the nucleus
to ‘prolapse’ or ‘seep out’
• Usually occurs at the back of the
disc where the spinal nerves
emerge from the spinal cord.
• This condition usually occurs after
years of a combination of poor
handling/ lifting techniques and
poor sitting/ standing posture.
Prolapsed Disc (Slipped Disc)
 Muscles

• Muscles act to assist, move and to stabilise the spine & to allow other
limb movements to occur
• Poor posture can result from inadequate support/control function of
muscles
• The abdominal muscles control the lower-spine
• When air is inhaled, the diaphragm moves down & the
abdominal muscles contract. The pressure inside the
abdomen increase to provide a structural support for the front of the
spine, which is not as closely supported by muscles at the back of
the spine
• Abdominal pressure can reduce the stress on the
discs by 40%!
Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULDS)

• The musculo-skeletal system comprises muscles,

tendons, bones, nerves and ligaments all of which
can be affected through poor manual handling
technique
• Musculo-skeletal injuries can arise through poor
posture, pushing/pulling/carrying heavy loads and
carrying out repetitive tasks
• Musculo-skeletal injuries can affect anyone from
office workers to production line workers
• Symptoms can take years to develop
4 Main Causes of Back-Pain

1. Traumatic Injury
• Sudden, violent stress to the spine, damaging muscles &
inter-vertebral discs
• Caused by poor lifting/ handling technique where sudden
load is placed on the spine.

2. Degeneration
• General ‘wear and tear’ of the joints with age;
• The degree of wear and tear varies from individual to
individual
4 Main causes of Back-Pain

3. Cumulative Stress
• Most common type of back-pain
• Occurs gradually, through a long period of poor sitting/ standing postures,
poorly designed working environment, obesity and poor muscle condition,
• Often leads to ‘twinges’ of back-pain, which can result in major
episodes

4. Psychological
• Psychological pain but no physical symptoms may occur
• Can occur during cases of depression or acute anxiety
Exercise

• From what has been discussed

so far in today’s session list
what activities in your
workplace do you think could
contribute towards injury when
carrying out manual handling
task(s)?
Reducing the Risk of Injury

• As part of the manual handling risk assessment the

appointed assessor should try to automate or
mechanise the move where possible, to avoid injury
• If this is not possible then the following factors must
always be considered by the individual prior to carrying
out a manual handling task:
• T = Task
• I = Individual
• L = Load
• E = Environment
T.I.L.E.

TASK
• What has to be moved?
• When does it have to be moved?
• Where does it have to be moved to?
• What is the frequency & duration of the operation?
INDIVIDUAL
• The individual’s capability to carry out the task needs to
be considered:
– Age, Sex, Medical Condition, Fitness, Experienced,
Trained etc.?
T.I.L.E.

LOAD
• assess the load prior to the move
• Check it’s size, weight, shape, hot/ cold, any sharps
protruding from item?
• Is it a COSHH substance? (PPE requirements?)

ENVIRONMENT
• Factors to be considered are the condition and space of
work area, temperature, condition of flooring, adequate
work space, adequate lighting
Filter Guidelines - (ONLY A GUIDE!)
PPE

• Poor manual handling techniques can lead to the

individual getting cuts, bruising, or lacerations to the
hands, feet, legs, arms etc.
• When carrying out a manual handling activity
consider the following;
• Gloves to protect hands from load
if hot/ cold, sharp etc.
• Eye Protection
• Steel Capped Footwear
Golden Rules

• Always be in charge of the

load, never let the load be
in charge of you!

• If you unable to manage

the load, always ask for
assistance from someone
who has received Manual
Handling training
How to Carry-out a ‘Base Movement’

• Before trying to move the load, carry out

assessment using T.I.L.E principle
Step 1 - Feet
• Place the feet hip width apart. Provides
good base to balance the body
• Put lead foot in front of the load, & other foot
to the other side of the load
Step 2 - Knees
• Relax the knees and sink down. Create the
‘Boxer Stance’
How to Carry-out a ‘Base Movement’

Step 3 - Hands (Palmer Grip)

• Tilt the load forward with lead hand (lead
hand is same side as lead foot to avoid
excessive twisting);
• This allows you to judge the weight of the
load & to slip the other hand underneath
the load (remember to check base of load
for any sharps).
Step 4 - Head
• As you prepare to lift the load, ensure that the head
is raised, this will automatically return the back to it’s
natural curve
How to Carry-out a ‘Base Movement’

Step 5 Arms
• Keep the arms close to the body and
ensure that the elbows are tucked in
• This reduces fatigue of the arms & shoulders
Step 6 - Breathing
• Always remember to breath in as you bend down to the
load. This will strengthen the abdominal muscles and
reduce damage to the discs of the spine by 40%.
• Always remember to breath out as you raise the load
as this will relax the structure of the spine
Principles of a Good ‘Base Movement’

Remember!
• Get in as close as possible to the load
• Use Your Leg Muscles, Keep Back in its Natural Curve
• PRACTICE - May seem awkward at first, but it will reduce the risk of injury.
Pushing & Pulling

X 

Top Heavy Bending

• Occurs when people lift,

push, pull or lean forwards at a
work surface or from the
ground, keeping their legs
straight and inclining the trunk
of body forwards
• This must be avoided because it places an excessive
strain/ stress on the back/ spine and the abdominal
muscles (can lead to a prolapsed disc/ hernia).
• A good lifting/ handling technique must be adopted to
avoid this
Team Handling/Lifting

• There should be enough space for the handlers to

manoeuvre as a group
• There should be adequate access to the load
• Good Communication amongst the handlers during
the operation is paramount to ensure that movements
are co-ordinated. Appoint one person as team leader
and say “Lift”, “Lower” etc.
• Team members participating in the move should also
be of a similar height and physical capability
Exercise

Choose one of the following tasks & identify how you would move
this load safely. Report back to the group step by step on how
you would carry out the chosen task.

A) Move plastic container (filled with water) across the

room
B) Box of Photocopying Paper from under Desk
C) Large Box from Floor to Desk Surface
D) Small box above Shoulder Height

• REMEMBER - BASE MOVEMENT PRINICPLES

Exercise

• List in groups what you think

could be done in your own
workplace to improve
manual handling tasks?
 ASSESSMENT

• PLEASE TICK THE APPROPRIATE CORRECT

ANSWER OR ANSWERS
• PRINT YOUR NAME
• SIGNATURE
• DATE
PLEASE FILL IN YOUR COURSE
EVALUATION SHEET.
 The End

Thank You for Attending Today’s

Training Session