TRAINING PROGRAMBy: RAHUL AHUJA

What is Manual Handling?

Transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. Manual handling is also sometimes

called manual material handling (MMH).

Manual Handling covers a wide vaiety of activities including lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling,

carrying or moving.

Carrying

Lifting

Pushing

Pulling

Holding

Striking

Hazards in Manual Handling

Manual handling occurs in almost all working environments (factories,warehouses, building sites, farms, hospitals, offices etc).

Poor manual handling practice is one of the most common causes of injury in the workplace and the injuries can be disabling and costly.

Manual handling can result in fatigue, and lead to injuries of the back, neck,shoulders, arms or other body parts. Two groups of injuries may result from manual handling:

1. Cuts, bruises, fractures etc, due to sudden, unexpected events such as accidents.

2. Damage to the musculoskeletal system of the body (muscles, ligaments, bones, joints, blood vessels and nerves) as a consequence of repetitive manual handling. These injuries are called ‘musculoskeletal disorders’ (MSDs) and can be divided into 3 groups:

Neck and upper limb disorders Lower limb disorders Back pain and back injuries.

Back or neck pain Pain in wrists shoulder or arms Stabbing pains in arms or legs Painful joints Pain, tingling or numbness in hands or feet Weakness or clumsiness Heaviness Burning sensations Stiffness Swelling

If you start to experience any of these symptoms don’t ignore them!

Symptoms

What makes Manual Handling hazardous?

1

THE LOAD

3

THE ENVIRONME

NT

2

THE TASK

4

THE INDIVIDUA

L

There are several factors that make manual handling hazardous, and increase the risk of injury. These are called risk factors. The risk factors, particularly for back injury, are related to 4 aspects of manual handling:

Risk Assessment of Manual Handling ActivitiesSimple steps can be followed to carry out an effective risk assessment in theworkplace:

1. Look for the hazards that could cause accidents, injuries or ill health,taking into account the load, the task, the environment and the operator.

2. Decide who might be harmed and how: evaluate the potential consequences of the hazards.

3. Decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done: find ways to reduce the risk.

Prevention Measures To help prevent manual handling injuries in the workplace, you should avoid such tasks

as far as possible. However, where it is not possible to avoid handling a load,

employers must look at the risks of that task and put sensible health and safety

measures in place to prevent and avoid injury.

For any lifting activity

Always take into account:

1. Individual capability2. The nature of the load3. Environmental conditions4. Taining

If you need to lift something manually-

1. Reduce the amount of twisting, stooping and reaching

2. Avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height, especially heavy loads

3. Consider how you can minimise carrying distances

4. Assess the weight to be carried and whether the worker can move the load safely or needs any help – maybe the load can be broken down to smaller, lighter components

When you have to Manually Handle loads consider:

Task - how often, how much twisting or bending is needed?

Individual capability, male or female, old or young, experienced or inexperienced?

Load - how heavy? Good grip? Bulky? Heavier at one end?

Environment - hot, cold, uneven floor, windy, stairs?

Remember : TILE

The WRONG way

How To Protect YourselfChange positions often; take stretch breaks.Maintain Natural Posture whenever possible.Eliminate or reduce MSD risk factors.Use material handling aids.Report MSD symptoms.

Subject to section 67 (1) of the Factory Act 1955, the maximum weights which may be lifted or carried by an adult male—a weight of not more than 55 kilogrammes (121 lbs).

There is no exact weight limit for manual handling. A weight of 20 to 25 kg is heavy too lift for most people, especially if the load is handled several times in an hour.

Correct Body PostureThe Solution-

Posture is the position of your body (including your arms, legs and back) while you are working.

Lifting TechniqueFOOT PLACEMENT

Stretch Breaks

Safe Manual Handling Points

THANKYOU