MANUAL HANDLING

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“Manual Handling” means any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain a person, animal or thing.

Manual Handling also includes any activity– involving repetitive and/or forceful movements (e.g. keying data

into a computer; using a screwdriver) – and any activity where the person must maintain constrained or

awkward postures

Working at arms length from the body is hazardous

Using hand tools in awkward posture is hazardous

Bending into storages on the ground is bad for your back

Exerting high force above shoulder height increases the risk of injury

Bending and lifting is hazardous for your back

Pushing objects in awkward posture is

bad for your back

Examples Of Manual Handling Activities Include:

Manual Handling injuries are

the single biggest group of injuries.

• More workers receive injuries from Manual Handling than any other category of injury.

• Manual Handling injuries affect workers of any age.

• Young men, 18-25yrs, most common injury is from lifting or being struck by moving objects.

Source: Workers' Compensation Statistical Report 1998/9 - 2001/02

10

Manual Handling Injury Stats.

Frequency (no. of lost time injuries per million hours worked)

Duration(average no. of days lost)

Males 5.6 81.0 days

Females 4.7 93.8 daysSource: Worker’s Compensation

Statistical Reports: 1998/99 – 2001/02, 1999/00 – 2002/03

In the period March 2006 to April 2007 there were a total of 105 workplace injuries at Ausdrill out of theses 75 were classed as Manual Handling or 71.5%

State Based Stats

Weight Limits

• There is no specified weight limit for an individual lift.• It is up to the individual to assess the weight and decide

whether it is safe to lift

• Manual Handling Injuries May Result From:– gradual wear and tear caused by frequent or prolonged periods

of Manual Handling activity (e.g. a storeperson continually handling stock between deliveries);

– sudden damage caused by intense or strenuous Manual Handling or awkward lifts (e.g. A labourer lifting a compactor or a mechanic/engineer lifting heavy metal to be machined

– direct trauma caused by unexpected events (e.g. a storeperson walking on uneven ground carrying a large heavy carton, trips and falls, poor housekeeping).

• Experience has shown most Manual Handling injuries are associated with day to day tasks.

• Very often there is no ‘accident’ (sudden or unexpected event) associated with the injury.

• The person may not feel pain until several hours after the injury occurs.

Injuries from Manual Handling

• Conditions known as:– RSI repetitive strain disorder

– OOS occupational overuse syndrome

• Soft tissue damage injuries, strains & sprains,

– MSD muscular-skeletal-disorder. Damage to soft or bony material.

See thru view of lumber back pain

Manual Handling Injuries Occur In Many Areas Of The Body

Common Injury Site Is The Spine

Picture showing spine and different areas

The most common site of injury in the spine is the lower back between L4/5 and L5/S1.

Spinal Section & Disc

Picture showing intervertebral disc.

Intervertebral discs shown in detail

Leverage and Back Injury

10 kg100 kg

Leverage can increase the weight on your lumbar by a factor of 10

Risk Factors In Manual Handling• A number of factors can increase the risk of injury, including:

– size, shape and weight of objects (if carried or held) and forces required (if pushed, pulled or restrained);

– sudden unexpected or jarring movement;– awkward movements, such as twisting, bending, over-reaching,

especially if combined with load handling;– static postures, like holding the body or part of the body in a

fixed position for a long time; and– personal factors, such as age, physical dimensions and any

disabilities the person may have.

This activity is a Manual Handling hazard.

The weight alone is sufficient to cause injury.

Disc compression due to excess weight

Risk Factors In Manual Handling

• These risk factors are influenced by:– how long and how often the tasks are performed (eg. repetitive

movement);

– the way work is organised, such as one employee performing all manual handling tasks instead of tasks being shared by several employees;

– design and layout of work environment; and

– the degree of familiarity with the task and associated training.

This activity may be a Manual Handling hazard.

Additional information is required regarding task duration, how far the load is carried etc.

Repetitive or Sustained Force

• Repetitive means done more than twice in a minute for more than 30 minutes in a given shift.

• Sustained force means done for more than 30 sec’s at a time.

• So any Manual Handling that fits into these descriptions is considered hazardous.

Repetitive or Sustained Awkward PostureRepetitive or Sustained Movement

Bending or Twisting the back forwards or sideways more than 20 degreesBending the back more than 5 degrees backwards

Sideways bending compressing discs

Repetitive or Sustained Awkward PostureRepetitive or Sustained Movement

• Bending or Twisting the neck forwards or sideways more than 20 degrees

• Bending neck backwards greater than 5 degrees

Twisting of the spine may cause soft tissue damage

Repetitive or Sustained Awkward PostureRepetitive or Sustained Movement• Working with one or both hands above head height.

• Reaching forwards or sideways more than 30cm from the body

Uneven disc load due to leaning

Repetitive or Sustained Awkward PostureRepetitive or Sustained Movement

• Squatting, kneeling, crawling, lying, semi-lying or jumping.• Standing on one leg etc• Excessive bending of the wrist

• Manual Handling injuries occur in many areas of the body, not just the spine.

• E.g. wrist strain & carpal tunnel syndrome, knee injury etc

Disc Damage

Disc Prolapse –

Mythbuster• Back belts are effective in reducing back injuries .

• Back belts, also known as lumbar or weight lifters' belts, or back support devices, are designed to be worn by people performing some form of manual handling, particularly lifting weights.

– Back belts don't reduce the forces on the spine

– Back belts don't reduce the strain on muscles, tendons and ligaments

– Back belts do nothing to reduce fatigue or to increase the ability to lift

– Back belts can increase blood pressure and breathing rate

– Back belts don't reduce the chance of injury or reduce back pain BUSTEDBUSTED

Mythbuster

• Job rotation does eliminate Manual Handling hazards – 1. Ineffective job rotation may increase worker exposure to the

risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). – 2. Job rotation doesn't eliminate the risk of MSD from Manual

Handling.

BUSTEDBUSTED

PREVENTING MANUALHANDLING INJURIES

• Your employer has a legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace for all employees.

• The national standard for Manual Handling requires that all tasks in your workplace which involve Manual Handling are identified and that the risk or likelihood of injury is assessed.

• Where there is a risk of injury, suitable "control measures" must be introduced..

Control Measures Need To Be

Suitable and Practical– redesigning the task or load that needs to be moved; – providing mechanical handling devices such as hoists or trolleys; – safe work procedures such as team lifting; or– specific training for particular handling tasks.

Robot in car factory fitting wheel components

Individuals At Work

• Each employee has a ‘duty of care’ which states they have to not put themselves or others in the workplace at risk.

• Individuals should take note of hazardous manual handling tasks

and take steps to reduce the risk to themselves/workmates.

• As An Employee,

– if you are aware of anything in your workplace which could be a Manual Handling risk, you should discuss it with your manager or supervisor and try to find the best way of eliminating or reducing it.

– Also talk to your health and safety representative or notify your health and safety committee if your workplace has one.

Safe lifting zone

The area of lowest risk when carrying out a lift is close to the body above the knees and below the

shoulders.

Hierarchy of Control

• Ask The Question?

– Is the Manual Handling activity necessary?

– If the answer is no then do not do it

– If the answer is yes then more questions need to be answered.

• Ask The Question?

– Can the work be changed to eliminate, reduce or control the risk of injury?

• Ways you can achieve this-– modifying workplace layout and equipment;– redesigning work patterns;– modifying the load;– warming up and stretching prior to manual handling.

Modifying Workplace Layout And Equipment

Raise work level by use ofself-adjusting platform

Use levers to reduce the force required

Gantry crane

Modifying The Load

Reduce the risk by lightening the load

Controlling The Work Environment

Worker in inadequate space. The pellet should be moved.

Good work layout with sufficient space

Lift S.M.A.R.T.

• End of Presentation

• Any Questions