Element B9 / 2

Element B9 / 2

Assessing Risks – MSD’s / Man

Handling / Poor Posture

Legal Requirements

HASAWA

Sec 2 (2) - …. Use, handling, storage, transport of articles and

substances

MHSWR

Assessments

Manual Handling Operations (MHOR) 1992

Assess risks from manual handling operations

Hierarchy

Avoid SFAIRP

S+S R/A of those that cannot be avoided

Reduce risk of injury SFAIRP

Element B9 / 2

Legal Requirements

Employees

HASAWA and MHSWR

Make full and proper use of equipment or SOW provided by

employer

Inform employer about any physical condition suffered which

will affect ability to undertake manual handling operations

safely

Element B9 / 2

Legal Requirements

Health and Safety (DSE) Regs 1992

Reduce risks from DSE

“Users”- habitually use DSE as significant part of normal work

Employers-

Analyse workstations – assess and reduce risks

Ensure workstations meet min requirements

Equipment, environment, interface between user and equipment

Plan work activities – breaks, work rotation

Provide eye sight tests on request, and special specs if needed

Info, training before person becomes a user

Assess the need for rest breaks

Element B9 / 2

Legal Requirements

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs

1992

Workplace Regs

Reduce risks in workplace

Including MSD’s

Workplace environment

Workstations and seating

Those not covered by DSE

Benches, etc.

Lighting

Room dimensions

Cleanliness

Suitable workstation

Element B9 / 2

Considerations – Manual Handling, Poor

Posture, Repetitive Physical Activities

Task

Repetition – more = risk

Posture

Held for long periods, or os awkward

Duration

Without rest

Duration of given task

During shift

Over time

Element B9 / 2

Considerations – Manual Handling, Poor

Posture, Repetitive Physical Activities

Load

Weight

Bulky

Unwieldy

Difficulty in grasping load

Unstable loads

Sharp, hot or otherwise

Element B9 / 2

Considerations – Manual Handling, Poor

Posture, Repetitive Physical Activities

Force

Force necessary to move or handle and object

To hold a tool or material being worked on

Speed of application of the force

Excessive force by use of muscles?

Reactive forces effect

From grip of equip

Duration force is applied

Element B9 / 2

Considerations – Manual Handling, Poor

Posture, Repetitive Physical Activities

Working Environment

Space requirements

Sufficient – be able to change position and vary movements

Layout

No easy access to equip = poor posture

Lighting

Good general and local, no glare or reflections

Noise and vibration

Temperature – not unreasonable

Humidity

Too low – affect eyes of DSE users

Element B9 / 2

Considerations – Manual Handling, Poor

Posture, Repetitive Physical Activities

Equipment

Load handling equipment

Minimise physical effort

Tools for leverage or additional grip

DSE

Screen

Keyboard

Desk or work surface

Chair

Element B9 / 2

Considerations – Manual Handling, Poor

Posture, Repetitive Physical Activities

Individual Capability

Capability required by the work

Variety of workers body sizes

Does the work require unusual capability

Info, training required

Individuals eyesight

consider-

Women (pregnant)

Young workers

Medical history – back, knees, hips etc

Disability

Physical or mental

Element B9 / 2

Guidelines for Assessment – Handling

Operations

Lifting

MHOR – no upper limit of weight

Approx boundaries at which risk may be present

Assessment should determine any risk

HSE Guideline Figures

Reasonable protection

Not Limits!

Women = 1/3 less than men

Element B9 / 2

Guidelines for Assessment – Handling

Operations

Carrying

Guideline figures similar to lifting and lowering

Assumes load against body and distance of 10

metres

If over longer distance – reduce figure

While seated

Guideline figures – only within box zone

Outside this zone – more detailed assessment

Element B9 / 2

Guidelines for Assessment – Handling

Operations

Twisting

Reduce guideline figures if handler twists during operation

10% for twist through 45 degrees

20% for through 90 degrees

ASSUMPTIONS

Trunk not twisted

Both hands used

Hands not more than shoulder width apart

Load central in front of body, is stable

Work area does not restrict posture

Work environment and any PPE do not interfere woth performance

of the task

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Handling Operations

Assessing the Task

Headroom

Stooping = bad

Highest risk = stoop, lift, twist

If cannot be designed out of task – help may be required with

the lifting element

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Handling Operations

Assessing the Task

Working on different levels

Steps, stairs, ladders

Need hand to grip ladders, handrails etc

View obscured – feet etc

Height of storage

To eliminate lifting where possible

Best = waist height

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Handling Operations

Assessing the Task

Holding load away from body Stress on the back

At arms length – safe load reduced by 80%

Posture Not just heavy, awkward loads

Over stretching, twisting, lifting with back

Whilst seated Twisting, reaching

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Handling Operations

Assessing the Task

PPE

Can add additional stress

Comfort and mobility

Rest

Highly repetitive work – suitable rest breaks

Job rotation

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Handling Operations

Assessing the Load

Not just weight

Size

Centre of gravity

How will it be lifted

Any PPE required

Fragile or damaged packaging

Secure load

Static / moving / unstable

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Handling Operations

Assessing the Force

Pushing and pulling

Guideline figures

Starting or stopping a load = 250 Newtons

Keeping in motion = 100 Newtons

100 Newtons = about 10Kg

No specific distances – as long as rest or recovery

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Handling Operations

Assessing the Working Environment

Look at area – see what is there

Experience and training

Over familiarity with poor conditions = poor perception of hazards

Floors Slips, trips, falls.

Uneven or slippery

Housekeeping

Distance between storage areas Over 10m = growing risk

Temp, humidity High temp – fatigue

Low temp – cold fingers

High winds – lack of control of load

Poor lighting Prevents proper assessment of environment

Bright to dark – 5 seconds for eyes to adjust

Read packaging info, ID any warnings about weight, contents, uneven distribution of load within package

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Handling Operations

Assessing Equipment

Mechanical assistance – reduces risk

Should be good condition

Assessing Individual Capability

In conjunction with load and task

Element B9 / 2

Assessment - DSE

Equipment

Display screen

Well defined and clear,

No flickering on screen – stable images

Easily user adjustable settings

Swivel / tilt for user

Free of reflective glare

Element B9 / 2

Assessment - DSE

Equipment

Keyboard

Possible to tilt

Use separately from screen, user finds own comfortable

position

Space for support in front of keyboard

Matt surface – avoids glare

Element B9 / 2

Assessment - DSE

Equipment

Work desk / surface

Sufficiently large, low-reflectance surface

Flexible arrangement of equipment and documents

Document holder – stable and adjustable

Adequate space to find comfortable position

Element B9 / 2

Assessment - DSE

Equipment

Work chair

Stable, free movement, comfortable position

Adjustable height

Seat back should tilt / height adjust

Footrest for those who request one

Element B9 / 2

Assessment - DSE

Environment

Lighting

Glare

Curtains / blinds

Noise – not distractive

Temperature

Low humidity

Adequate space

Level floor – desk and chair

Element B9 / 2

Assessment - DSE

User / Computer Interface

Software easy to use

Font size, colour definition

Work rate not governed by software

Rapid work without rest

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Poor Posture

Repetitive physical movement

Manual handling

DSE

All can result in back pain

Mobile machine ops and drivers

Poorly adjusted seats

WBV

Element B9 / 2

Assessment – Poor Posture

Factors to consider

Layout of workstation

Relationship of task to individual

Constraints of the environment

Standing or sitting best?

Duration of held posture

Opportunities for rest or adjustment

Inadequate workstation design, lighting, positioning

Element B9 / 2

Assessment Tools

HSE Manual Handling Assessment Tool

MAC (assessment charts)

Originally for inspectors

Now open for all on website

Each type of assessment there is a guide

Flow chart determines level of risk

Green – low

Amber – med

Red – high – prompt action needed

Purple – very high. Serious risk. Requires close scrutiny

Element B9 / 2

Assessment Tools

HSE ART Tool

Assessment of repetitive tasks

For tasks that require repetitive movement of upper limbs

Numerical scores and traffic light system (same as MAC)

NIOSH MMH Checklist

National IOSH (USA) Manual Material Handling

Similar to MAC

Element B9 / 2

Assessment Tools

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment

RULA

Survey method

Ergonomic investigations of workplaces where ULD are reported

Scoring generates an action plan

Quick Exposure Check

QEC

Changes in exposure to MSD’s before and after ergonomic

intervention

Element B9 / 2

Controls

Elimination

If not possible then-

Automation / Mechanical Assistance

Alternative work methods / job design

Ergonomic Design of Workstations,

Tools, Equipment

Element B9 / 2

Controls

Job Rotation / Routine

Eye Tests

DSE regs

Training and Information

Efficient Movement Principles

Element B9 / 2