Scribd
Upload
83 views2 pages

Safety Tips 013 - Manual Handling

This document provides safety tips and guidelines for manual handling tasks. It defines manual handling and emphasizes avoiding injury by considering individual capability, the load, environment, training and work organization when lifting. It provides tips for lifting technique including bending knees not back, keeping the load close, and getting assistance for heavy loads.

Uploaded by

Lawrence adeleke Omisakin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
83 views2 pages

Safety Tips 013 - Manual Handling

This document provides safety tips and guidelines for manual handling tasks. It defines manual handling and emphasizes avoiding injury by considering individual capability, the load, environment, training and work organization when lifting. It provides tips for lifting technique including bending knees not back, keeping the load close, and getting assistance for heavy loads.

Uploaded by

Lawrence adeleke Omisakin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Safety Tips

Manual Handling

What is Manual Handling?

Manual handling is defined as the transport or support of a load by hand or bodily force. This
includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying, steadying, balancing, maneuvering or
transporting. Manual handling is one of the key health and safety concerns in the workplace as
almost every organization in any sector will have some form of manual handling activities being
carried out. 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:
 individual capability
 the nature of the load
 environmental conditions
 training
 work organization 1

If you need to lift something manually

 Reduce the amount of twisting, stooping


and reaching
 Avoid lifting from floor level or above
shoulder height, especially heavy loads
 Adjust storage areas to minimize the need to carry out such movements
 Consider how you can minimize carrying distances
 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

If you need to use lifting equipment

 Consider whether you can use a lifting aid, such as a forklift truck, electric or hand-powered
hoist, or a conveyor
 Think about storage as part of the delivery process – maybe heavy items could be delivered
directly, or closer, to the storage area
 Reduce carrying distances where possible

T**C-SMS-ST-013 Date: 30/09/2021


Safety Tips
Good handling technique for lifting
There are some simple things to do before and during the lift/carry:

 Remove obstructions from the route.


 For a long lift, plan to rest the load midway on a table or bench to change grip.
 Keep the load close to the waist. The load should be kept close to the body for as long as
possible while lifting.
 Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body.
 Adopt a stable position and make sure your feet are apart, with one leg slightly forward to
maintain balance
Think before lifting/handling. Plan the lift. Can handling aids be used? Where is the load going to
be placed? Will help be needed with the load? Remove obstructions such as discarded wrapping
materials. For a long lift, consider resting the load midway on a table or bench to change grip.
Adopt a stable position. The feet should be apart with one leg slightly forward to maintain
balance (alongside the load, if it is on the ground). Be prepared to move your feet during the lift to
maintain your stability. Avoid tight clothing or unsuitable footwear, which may make this difficult.
Get a good hold. Where possible, the load should be hugged as close as possible to the body. This
may be better than gripping it tightly with hands only.
Start in a good posture. At the start of the lift, slight bending of the back, hips and knees is
preferable to fully flexing the back (stooping) or fully flexing the hips and knees (squatting).
2
Don't flex the back any further while lifting. This can happen if the legs begin to straighten
before starting to raise the load.
Keep the load close to the waist. Keep the load close to the body for as long as possible while
lifting. Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body. If a close approach to the load is not
possible, try to slide it towards the body before attempting to lift it.
Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways, especially while the back is bent. Shoulders
should be kept level and facing in the same direction as the hips. Turning by moving the feet is
better than twisting and lifting at the same time.
Keep the head up when handling. Look ahead, not down at the load, once it has been held
securely.
Move smoothly. The load should not be jerked or snatched as this can make it harder to keep
control and can increase the risk of injury.
Don't lift or handle more than can be easily managed. There is a difference between what
people can lift and what they can safely lift. If in doubt, seek advice or get help.
Put down, then adjust. If precise positioning of the load is necessary, put it down first, then slide it
into the desired position.

BEND YOUR KNEES, NOT YOUR BACK!

T**C-SMS-ST-013 Date: 30/09/2021

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy