MANUAL HANDLING

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MANUAL HANDLING
Heritage Group Safety

• THINK BEFORE YOU LIFT

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Course Objectives

• Learn to appreciate
• The extent of the problems caused by incorrectly
  moving loads.
• Thinking through moving a load. Taking a few
  minutes to assess the manual handling.
• The importance of using equipment or getting help
  to assist with the move.
• The value of good workplace design
• The value of rest, exercise, stretching and
  eating right.

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The Back Injury Problem

• More than one million workers suffer back
  injuries each year.
• One fourth of all worker compensation claims
  involve back injuries, costing billions of
  dollars.
• Though lifting, placing, carrying, holding and
  lowering are involved in manual handling, the
  Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey shows
  that four out of five injuries were to the lower
  back.
• Three out of four of those occurred while the
  employee was lifting.

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???The Number One Problem

• Proper lifting requires extra muscular movement.
  Its easier to lift improperly! Bad habits are
  hard to break.
• As the workforce ages, natural degeneration
  occurs and our bodies wear out.
• Improper nutrition, lack of exercise and fatigue
  add to the problem.
• Workers, in a hurry to get the job done, take
  shortcuts.
• Many workers do not take the time to think about
  the lift before they do it.

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Back injuries???

• Back injuries fall into a category of injuries
  known as Cumulative Trauma Injuries.
• While many back injuries happen instantaneously,
  most are the result of years of poor lifting
  practice.
• When you wear out your back, the simple act of
  picking up a pencil can slip a disc and cause
  enormous pain.
• In other words, when it comes to lifting, bad
  habits equal eventual pain. You can pay me now
  or pay me later fits well with poor lifting
  habits.

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Awkward Positions

• Bending over at the waist.
• Reaching across or over some obstacle.
• Cumbersome or odd shaped loads.
• Reaching to grab a
• load at a high or low position.

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TWISTING

• One of the worst problems in manual handling.
• Twisting at the waist and not moving your feet to
  face the load.
• Force is on the shoulders, arms and other back
  muscles - not only on the back.

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HEAVY LOADS

• How much you can lift is based on your personal
  characteristics, size, weight, sex, etc.
• How to determine weight.
• Single packages vs. packages with components.
• All persons have different capacities.
• What is a safe weight?

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REPETITION

• Doesnt matter how heavy.
• No rest between movements.
• Injuries not normally instantaneous - cumulative
  trauma.

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SIGHT OBSTRUCTIONS

• Balance
• Load is too large - obstructs vision
• Leads to other injuries

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FATIGUE

• More vulnerable to injury
• Decrease ability to think clearly

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THE LOAD ITSELF

• Load shifts
• Sharp edges
• Temperature (hot or cold)
• Bulky

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USE THE TAKE TWO PROCESS

• Take a couple minutes to scope out the lift or
  move.
• Think through the lift or move.
• Check the work area.
• Check the load.
• Take the Six Question Test before you attempt
  the move.

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1. MUST THE LOAD BE MOVED?

• Is it really necessary to move the load?
• Do not move loads that do not need moved.
• Look for ways to minimize moving materials.

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2. MUST IT BE LIFTED?

• Do not lift loads that do not need lifted.
• Can the load be moved without lifting it?
• Can it be rolled, slid or pushed?
• Where lifting is necessary, consider engineering
  solutions.

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3. CAN IT BE MOVED MECHANICALLY?

• Do not manually handle loads that can be move
  mechanically.
• Is there a crane, fork lift truck, winch or hand
  truck available?

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4. CAN THE LOAD BE REDUCED?

• Do not carry a load that is excessive in weight
  or bulk.
• Remember-You have personal limits.
• Dividing a load will reduce its weight and bulk.
• Clearing a direct path will reduce the distance.
• Better containerization will reduce the bulk.

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5. CAN ASSISTANCE BE GAINED?

• Do not lift on your own if a team lift is
  required.
• Some loads require at least two people to handle
  its weight, bulk or size.

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6. IS THE LOAD TOO HEAVY TO LIFT?

• Do not lift a load that is not within your
  lifting capacity.
• Is the load within your capacity to lift?
• Is it within your personal limit?

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EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITY in WORKPLACE DESIGN

• Do not take workplace design for granted.
• Observe your workplace and analyze your work
  movements.
• Then suggest alternatives.
• No one knows your job better than you.

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THE VALUE of REST, STRETCHING, EXERCISING and
EATING RIGHT

• Good physical condition promotes a strong back.
• Being overweight puts additional stress on the
  back.
• Stretched and warmed muscles are less apt to get
  injured.
• Fatigue is a cause of many injuries- Get your
  rest.

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THE END REMEMBER- Manual Handling causes most of
the Workplace injuries. THINK BEFORE YOU LIFT!