Manual Handling

Mohamed El Noaimi
HSE Advisor
 Aims and Objectives

Provide sufficient
understanding
and knowledge of
Manual Handling,
the risks
involved and the
control measures
available.
 How?
Theory
Discussion
Practical
Demonstrations
 What Is Manual Handling?
Any transporting or supporting of a
load by hand or bodily force
This includes:
Lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling,
carrying or moving
This human effort can be applied
indirectly
 What Is Manual Handling?
Such as hauling on a rope
Pulling a lever
Applying a force to manipulate a load
supported on a
Spade
Fork
or similar implement
 Manual Handling Facts
Low back pain occurs with the same frequency in
people with desk occupations as those in heavy
labour
Musculo-skeletal disorders arising from work
situations have an estimated annual cost in the
region of 3 billion and account for 30 million lost
work days each year
Smokers are more likely to suffer back pain than
non-smokers
 Manual Handling Facts
Being overweight increases the likelihood
of back pain
Age doesnt necessarily make any
difference, bad backs affect people of all
ages
Poor handling techniques when you are
young will contribute to problems in later
life
Those who have suffered from a back
injury are three times more likely to
suffer injury again
Reasons for Manual Handling
Training
Reduce lost working days
through injury
The Law
Looking after one of the most
important parts of the body
Kinds of Accident Causing Injury
1996/97 From HSE

Machinery
Other 4.5%
12.6%

Handling
Falls 36.5%
Handling
6.9%
Struck by
Trips
Falls
Other
Machinery
Trips
19.1%

Struck by
20.4%
 Types of injuries caused by
handling accidents 1996/97 From HSE
Superficial
5.3%

Other
3.1%

Fracture
3.3%

Laceration
8.8%
Sprain/Strain
Contusion Contusion
6.4% Laceration
Fracture
Other
Superficial

Sprain/Strain
73.1%
 Sites of injuries caused by
handling 1996/97 From HSE

Other
Low er Limb
3.3%
7.7%

Finger/Thumb
14.3% Back
Rest of Torso
Back
Arm
49.3%
Hand/Wrist
Finger/Thumb

Hand/Wrist Low er Limb

8.5% Other

Arm
10.3%
Rest of Torso
6.6%
The Law & Manual Handling

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act

1974 (HASAWA)
The Management of Health and Safety
at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWA)
The Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992
The Law & Manual Handling
HASAWA:
General duty to ensure the health,
safety and welfare at work of their
employees. In particular, they have a
duty to ensure the safe use, handling,
storage and transport of articles and
substances so far as is reasonably
practicable.
The Law & Manual Handling

MHSWR:
Regulation 3(1) requires employers to
risk assess work activities. This risk
assessment should identify whether
there is a risk of injury from manual
handling operations in the workplace.
The Law & Manual Handling
The Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992:
These regulations are based on an
ergonomic approach to preventing
manual handling injuries. This involves
fitting the job to the worker, taking
into account anatomy, physiology and
psychology.
The Law & Manual Handling

Whereas previous legislation set limits

on the weight of loads that can be
lifted, these regulations require a
number of relevant factors to be
taken into consideration:
 The Law & Manual Handling

These are known as TILE:

Task
Individual Capability
Load
Environment
 Relevant Factors
Task:
What is it about the way that we organise the task which might
affect our health and safety?
Individual Capabilities:
What is it about the people who are doing the job that might
affect their health and safety?
Load:
What is it about the load which might affect our health and
safety?
Environment:
What is it about the place which might affect our health and
safety?
 The Law & Manual Handling
These regulations set out a hierarchy of
measures employers should work through
to prevent or reduce the likelihood of
injury:
Avoid manual handling
Assess the task
Reduce the risk
Monitor the task
Inform and train staff on residual risks
 Avoid Manual Handling
Eliminate:
By design- Reduce heavy structural
materials, layout of workplace to minimise
manual handling operations
Automation/mechanisation:- Cranes, hoists,
forklift trucks, sack trolleys etc
Management- Delivery of heavy articles to
point of use, storing heaviest materials at
waist level
Main Types of Injury

Traumatic:Strain/Sprain,
Slipped Disc

Repetitive:Effects overtime,
Pain
Cumulative Manual Handling
Injuries
Back Pain
Neck
Shoulders
Knees
Feet
Wrist/Elbows
Hernia
Overall Fatigue
Many Others
 Work Related Upper Limb
Disorders (WRULD)
Affects shoulders, arms and wrists
Main Causes:
Excessive force
Excessive repetition
Lack of recovery time or rest
Poor static posture
Stress
Individual susceptibility
 Causes of Back Pain
Not just caused by heavy work and heavy
weights
Can be due to:
Poor static posture
Sitting too long in one position
Sudden movement
Vibration during handling
Psychological stress
 INJURIES CAUSED BY
MANUAL HANDLING ARE
RARELY FATAL, BUT.

Can cause permanent disability

The Spine
Spine - 3 main
functions.
To protect the
spinal cord

To allow movement.

To support the
upper body.
The Structure & Function of
the Spine
Provides a flexible connection between the upper
and lower half of the body
Encloses and protects the spinal cord
Is involved in most movements of the trunk and
limbs by providing key attachment points for
muscles
Has a very significant function in weight bearing
but only with correct posture
Is very likely to injury if used incorrectly
 The Human Spine(backbone,
spinal column)
Consists of a column of small bones
each called a VERTEBRA
If numbered 1-33 (starting with 1
nearest the skull):
1-7 are known as CERVICAL
VERTABRAE
8-19 are known as THORACIC
VERTABRAE
 The Human Spine(backbone,
spinal column)
20-24 are known as LUMBAR
VERTABRAE
25-30 Fused Vertebrae known as
SACRUM
30-33 Fused Vertebrae known as
COCCYX
The Human Spine(backbone,
spinal column)
 The Spine

Each muscle in the back can move 1.25 cm

Multiply this movement by 33 vertebrae
and this allows us to bend
The body is 20mm shorter at the end of
the day than at the start
 The Spine
Each vertebrae is separated by a gel
like substance, the disc. These discs
bend and stretch as we move
 The Spinal Cord
The Spine protects the spinal cord. The
spinal cord and the nervous system
controls all systems in the body. As the
cord descends from the brain nerves peel
away from the cord at each vertebrae,
leading to all other parts of the body.
Damage to the cord will result in the
blockage of signals from the brain to the
area affected.
The Spinal Cord
The Nerves
 Slipped Disc
A slipped disc is also called a herniated
or prolapsed disc
It is a bulge in the wall of one of the
discs between the vertebrae pressing
onto the nerve
 Slipped Disc
Main symptom is sciatica (pain in legs, back
and buttocks)
Other damage often occurs at the same
time, such as muscles strain and tears
Treatment:
Minimum stress to the spine
Correct posture
Time to restore
 Forces
1kg Weight close to the body
exerts 10kg force onto muscles
of the back (1:10)
1kg Weight held at arms length
exerts 100kg force onto the
muscles of the back (1:100)
How to Lift
1.Stop and Think
2.Place the feet
3.Get a Firm Grip
4.Dont Jerk
5.Move the Feet, Keep Close
to the Load
6.Put down, Then adjust














 Lifting and Lowering Limits
Guidance for tasks performed less than 30 per hour
Lifting and Lowering
Reductions
 Lifting and Lowering
Reductions
Carrying: Max 10m without a rest
Pushing/Pulling: Max starting/stooping
force 250 Newton's (25kg) 16kg for women
Max force for keeping load in motion 100
Newton's (10kg) 7kg for women
Seated: Max figure (close to body &
between work surface and shoulder height)
5kg, 3kg for women
Handling while Seated
 10:1 Mechanical Disadvantage

500 pounds 50 pounds

F
58
 The back as a lever.

Lever distance

Fulcrum

500
500LBS
LBS!!

50 LBS

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 The back as a lever

1,500 LBS ! Lever distance

Fulcrum

50 lbs

100 lbs
60
 Practical
Demonstrations
 Manual Handling Principles
Stay balanced
Keeping your centre of gravity close to the
loads centre of gravity
Bending from the knees
Keeping the back straight, and head up
Staying compact when pushing
Moving the feet to turn, not the body
Moving smoothly, particularly when setting
loads down
 Important
Knowledge and training alone will not
guarantee safe handling
A risk assessment needs to be
undertaken
Avoid if possible
Know your own limits
Put training into action at work as
well as home
REMEMBER
PREVENTION
IS
BETTER
THAN
CURE
Manual Handling
Project
And Finally
 Hurt at Work
You've carefully thought out all the
angles.
You've done it a thousand times.
It comes naturally to you.
You know what you're doing, its what
you've been trained to do your whole life.
Nothing could possibly go wrong, right ?
 Preventing Back Injuries

Stay in Shape
Exercise (80% of
back pain can be
attributed to lack
of exercise).

68
 Back Exercises

Partial Sit-up
With bent knees, slowly raise your head and
shoulders off the floor and hold.

69
 Back Exercises

Knee-to-chest raise.
Lie down, Slowly pull knees to chest, relaxing
your neck and back

70
Back Exercises

Wall Slide
With your back against a
wall, slide to a sitting
position and hold as
long as possible.

71
 Back Exercises

Press-up
Lie down with hands near shoulder and pelvis
on floor. Press up painlessly, hold, and repeat
10 times.

72
 Preventing Back Injuries

Reduce Weights

73
 How much is too much?

Depends on a variety of factors:

Individual
Size of the load
Where lift starts from
Distance lifted
Lifting & Twisting?
Grip
Frequency & Duration
of lifting tasks 74
 Recommended Weight Limit
Lifting factors

Lifts starting below knuckle height.

Lifts starting/ending above shoulder height.
Lifting with an extended reach.
Twisting the body while lifting/lowering.
High lifting frequency
Duration of Lifting
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 Back Injury Prevention

Reduce Weights

u Is it necessary to lift more than

one carton at a time?
u Can the carton be broken down
before lifting?
u Can I get assistance with
heavier loads?
u Can I use mechanical aids?

80
 Back Injury Prevention

u Reduce the number of times

the object must be lifted.

u Dont put it down if you have

to pick it up again.

81
Back Injury Prevention

82
Back Injury Prevention

83
 Back Injury Prevention
Reduce Bending Motions

1 2

84
 Back Injury Prevention

Reduce Stress

Eliminate extended
reaching

Remove
barriers/obstacles

85
 Back Injury Prevention

Plan the lift

How much does it

weigh?
Give it a heft test.
Get help if needed!

86
 General Lifting Techniques

Get close to the load and grasp firmly.

Keep your back in its natural alignment.
Bend the Knees, not your back.
Lift with your leg muscles.
Keep the load close to the body.
Pivot and shift.
Set the load down smoothly.
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General Lifting Techniques

88
General Lifting Techniques

89
General Lifting Techniques

90
 Team Lifting

Pick one person to

call signals
Lift together
Walk in step
Lower the load
together.

91
 Pushing/Pulling Tasks

u Generally better to push rather than pull.

u Greater force can be applied.

92
 Pushing/Pulling Tasks

Reduce pushing/pulling forces!

Use carts with large wheels
Keep floors clean
Push/pull carts from swivel end.
Dont overload carts
Use powered carts (e.g., forklifts, electric pallet
jacks, etc.)
NOTE: Powered Industrial Trucks Certification
needed
93
Carrying Tasks

94
 Carrying Tasks
Keep the load close to the body.

95
 Summary

30% of those who report a back injury lift over 100 times per day.
In 30% of the cases, the object weighed over 100 pounds.
35% of the workers with injuries believed that the loads they lifted
were too heavy.
In 70% of the cases, the object lifted at time of injury weighed
between 40 and 100 pounds.
In 80% of the cases, employees were carrying the load less than 5
feet.
In 50% of the reported injuries, the load at the time of injury was on
the floor.
About 50% of the workers who reported injuries had prior back
injuries.
In 83% of the injuries reported, the back was fully or partially flexed.

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Think Again!