Event Details
As an employer, you must protect your workers from the risk of injury from hazardous handling of loads in the workplace. Manual handling means transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force.
It includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving loads. A load can be an object, person or animal.
The law sets out how employers must deal with risks from manual handling
By the end of the session, delegates will understand the hazards associated with lifting and carrying, and how to minimise the risk of injury. They will also be made familiar with the regulation requirements.
Handling loads at work
Criminal and Civil Law
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974-Duty of care
Statistical information
Manual Handling Regulations 1992-Lifting and lowering guidelines
Assessment of handling operations
What trainers need to do?
Injuries
Correct handling techniques
Top heavy load
Principles of manual lifting, basic movements, looking after the body and the spine.
Risk assessment Definitions
Stages involved in a risk assessment
Hazard identification techniques
Hierarchy of control
Assessment prior to handling
Task, Load, Environment, Individual
The kinetic method
Lifting aids
Assessment in practice
Consider introducing, for example, a conveyor, a chute, a pallet truck, an electric or hand-powered hoist, or a lift truck to reduce the risk of harm. Mechanical aids can also help reduce or eliminate risks.
You should consider the task, the load, the working environment and individual capability, for example:
- the postures adopted
- how far the load is lifted, lowered or carried
- the frequency of the task
- the weight of the load
- the nature of the load (for example hot, sharp or slippery)
- cramped work areas
- poor floor surfaces
- poor lighting, extremes of temperature
- workers’ strength, fitness and underlying medical conditions (for example a history of back problems)
Also, look out for:
- workers breathing heavily and sweating
- workers who complain of excessive fatigue
- reluctance to do a particular task
- the availability of equipment to help with the lift