COMPONENT 3

Trainer's Workshop Notes

Component 3 is a summary of the workshop guide in Component 1. It is designed to be used by the trainer during the workshop. (Overhead transparencies and other material for use in the workshop are found in Component 5 of this package. )

TRAINER'S WORKSHOP NOTES

Workshop Notes

This section of workshop notes is a summary of the information in the Workshop Guide. It is designed to be used by the trainer during the workshop. It is set out in easy-to-read format, providing reminders and pointers to assist in the presentation of the information. Masters for overhead transparencies are found in Component 5.

What you need for this presentation:

• Whiteboard and whiteboard markers
• Overhead Projector
• Overhead transparencies (from Component 5)
• Copies of Trainee Notes (Component 4).
• Copies of handouts for each participant (from Component 5)

- Risk identification checklist (Checklist 1)

- Risk assessment checklists:

general (Checklist 2) or

handling people (Checklist 3).

- Risk control worksheet (Checklist 4)

- Case study sheets

- "Who's responsible?" forms

Workshop Notes - Preventing Manual Handling Injuries in the Workplace.

Section 1. Introduction.

Time allocated to Section 1: 15 minutes.

1. Introduce trainer and participants.

2. Explain the overview of the workshop

(Refer Overhead Transparency 1).

3. Emphasize the participatory nature of the workshop.

4. Read the aims and objectives of the workshop from

Overhead Transparency 2.

5. Definition of manual handling.

• Ask participants what they think the definition of manual handling is. Write ideas on the whiteboard.

(Refer Overhead Transparency 3).

• Explain that manual handling therefore means much more than just lifting. Unfortunately, many of these manual handling tasks have lead to injuries to workers.

6. Manual handling injuries.

• Usually sprains or strains to muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.
• Associated with overexertion or physical stress while handling loads.
• Jobs that involve:

- repetitive movements,

- working in awkward positions for a long time,

can lead to cumulative strain over time.

7. Cost of manual handling injuries.

• $
• % of the total number of injuries to workers.
• Human cost - pain and suffering: emotional stress: stigma.
• Show Overhead Transparency 4 with the summary of cost per industry.
• Where does your workplace fit into the picture?

8. Practice.

It recommends a 3 stage approach

(Refer Overhead Transparency 5).

• Risk identification
• Risk assessment
• Risk control

Any questions on this section?

Section 2. Legal setting.

Time allocated to Section 2: 20 - 25 minutes.

1. Occupational Health Safety and Health Act.

2. There is a general duty clause in the Act concerning the responsibilities of employers and employees.

(Refer Overhead Transparency 6).

3. Manual handling hazards are covered by these general duties of the Act.

Any questions on this section?

Before looking at good practice in detail, we need to cover some basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, to get a better understanding of what happens to the body during manual handling.

Section 3. Anatomy and Physiology.

Time allocated to Section 3: 20 - 25 minutes.

This information is included to provide some background to questions which need to be asked. For example,

• Why is there an increased risk of injury if the "load is located below mid thigh height"?
• Why is there an increased risk "if there is frequent or prolonged bending of the back?"

1. Anatomy of the spine. (Refer Overhead Transparency 7).

• The spine is made up of 33 small bones or vertebrae.

The top 7 bones = cervical or neck region

The next 12 bones = thoracic region

The next 5 bones = lumbar region

Remainder are fused = sacrum and coccyx.

• Looking from the front or the back, the vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other in a straight line.
• Looking from the side, the vertebrae form 3 spinal curves:

Forwards in the neck;

Backwards in the thoracic area; and

Forwards in the lumbar area.

These form the basis of posture of the spine.

The structure of spine. (Refer Overhead Transparency 8).

• Explain the features of the vertebra:

Body of the vertebra;

Spinal cord and spinal nerves;

Facet joints; and

Ligaments.

Intervertebral discs.

• There is a disc between each vertebra. The disc is firmly attached to the vertebrae. It is not just slotted in, and it cannot "slip".
• The disc is made of cartilage, like your nose or ear lobe.
• Ask what the participants think is the use (or function) of the discs.

Function: Allows for movement of the spine. Acts as a shock absorber.

Muscles. (Refer Overhead Transparency 9).

• Deep back muscles - small muscles running between a few vertebrae on each side of the midline.

Function: Just to hold up the body against the influence of gravity.

• Abdominal muscles.

2. Posture. (Refer Overhead Transparency 7).

Posture involves maintaining the 3 spinal curves described above. In this position:

• The spine and all its structures are under least stress; and
• The muscles are at their strongest.

Demonstration.

Ask the participants to stand up, and demonstrate how they think the 3 curves would be maintained in a standing position.

Hints: Tuck the chin in;

Shoulders back and down;

Stomach and bottom in; and

Feet placed slightly apart.

• As posture deviates from this natural body position, there is extra tension placed on all the structures of the spine. Twisted or bent postures in particular mean an increased risk of injury.

Example: A worker who has to hold a forward bent position, bending over a workbench that is too low.

• Many of the recommendations, such as loads being stored at approximately waist height, help ensure the worker is able to maintain a good posture while doing manual handling. (Refer Overhead Transparency 10).

3. Types of muscle work. (Refer Overhead Transparency 11).

Explain dynamic and static muscle work.

Demonstration.

Ask the participants to demonstrate the different types of muscle work. Get them to stand up, and put their arms out to the side.

Dynamic.

Shoulder muscle work - move arms up and down. Do for 1 minute.

Explain: blood flows though the muscle, flushing out the waste products of muscle work.

Static.

Shoulder muscle work - hold arms still. Do for 1 minute. Ask how their arms are feeling (you will get comments like "tired", "heavy", "sore").

Explain: these are all symptoms of lack of blood flow to the muscles because the blood vessels have been squashed by the muscle working.

• Get participants to name examples of static muscle work in their workplace.

Examples: The neck muscles when looking down at a desk reading; Bending over a low bench; and A mechanic working under a vehicle with his arms above his head.

• Many of our questions are looking for examples of long periods of static muscle work in the workplace.

4. Principles of levers. (Refer Overhead Transparency 12).

• For our bodies to move, the muscles have to pull on the bones of our arms, legs and back. The bones are like levers.
• A weight at a short distance from the fulcrum requires less effort to move than the same weight a longer distance from the fulcrum.
• When lifting a load, the closer the load is to the person's body, the less strain it takes, and therefore the lower the risk of injury.

If the load is further away, there is a greater strain on the person doing the handling. Give examples of why the person may not be able to get close to the load.

Examples: The layout of the work area; Cluttered floor area making access difficult; and The reluctance of the handler to move his/her feet.

• (Refer Overhead Transparency 13). The spine can also sometimes be used as a lever. The force exerted by the spinal muscles can be up to ten times greater than the weight of the load handled.

Any questions on this section?

BREAK: Participants should get up and walk around, so changing their static, seated postures. Minimum break time - 10 minutes.

Using the background information, we now return to look at the Code of Practice in detail, giving details of how to use it to identify, assess and control manual handling risks in your workplace.

Section 4. Using Good Practice.

Our method has a 3 stage approach.
(Refer to Overhead Transparency 5).

Risk identification (Spotting the problem).

Time allocated to Section: 30 minutes.

Definition:

• The process of identifying factors in the work process which could result in a risk of manual handling injury.

Purpose:

• To identify and prioritize the jobs or tasks which require risk assessment.

When to do risk identification:

• Where jobs or tasks involve manual handling.
• Where an employee has reported a manual handling hazard.
• Where an injury has occurred.

The process: (Refer Overhead transparency 15)

Step 1: Analysis of injury records and incident reports.

Consider:

• The area in the workplace where the injury occurred;
• The job or task of the person injured;
• The part(s) of the body injured;
• The nature of the injury (eg. fracture, strain); and
• The type of accident (eg. slip, trip, overexertion injury).

The higher the frequency, or greater the severity, the higher the priority.

Step 2: Consultation with employees.

• Talk to the employees doing the job or task.
• Talk to the Health and Safety Representatives or Committees.

Step 3: Direct observation.

• Hand out Risk Identification Checklists (Checklist 1). Explain that any "yes" answers to the checklist indicate that the task requires further assessment. The more "yes" answers, the higher the priority for risk assessment.

Any questions on this section?

Risk assessment (Understanding the problem).

Time allocated to Section : 45 minutes.

(Refer Overhead Transparency 16).

Definition:

• The process of assessing all risk factors identified in the first stage.

Purpose:

• To determine appropriate ways of dealing with the problem.

When to do risk assessment:

• When an injury has occurred arising from a work process or practice.
• Where a work process or practice is introduced or modified.

Consult with:

• Employees doing the manual handling tasks.
• Health and safety representatives.

The process: (Refer Overhead Transparency 17).

The 4 principal areas covered in the risk assessment section relate to:

• The workplace environment;
• The load handled;
• The task carried out; and
• Characteristics of employees.

Hand out Risk Assessment Checklists. (Checklist 2 or 3 - choose the most appropriate for your workplace).

The checklist is to be used while observing the tasks being done. Put comments in where you mark an increased risk. It is important to consider all risk factors - don't jump to early conclusions!

• Explain the terms "frequent" and "prolonged".
• Explain weights and forces,

(Refer to Overhead Transparency 18).

• Explain measurement of vibration and lighting levels.
• Give participants a few minutes to look through the checklist, and ask any further questions. Use the explanation in the Risk Assessment checklist with notes (in the Workshop Guide - Component 1) to answer questions.

Any questions on this section?

Risk control (dealing with the problem).

Time allocated to Section : 45 minutes.

(Refer Overhead Transparency 19).

Definition:

• The process of eliminating or reducing risk factors.

Purpose:

• To make the job or task safer for employees, and reduce the incidence of manual handling injuries.

When to do risk control:

• After completing the risk assessment process.

Consult with:

• Employees doing the manual handling tasks.
• Managers and supervisors.
• Health and safety representatives.

The process: (Refer Overhead Transparency 20).

Explain the preferred order of risk control, using examples from your workplace. These may include:

• Job re-design, including eliminating the task;
• Mechanical handling equipment;
• Training.

Consider other factors such as special needs, clothing, foot-wear and gloves.

Discuss short and long term risk control measures.

Evaluation of risk control measures.

Hand out Risk Control Sheets (Checklist 4), and explain briefly. (Refer Overhead Transparency 21).

Any questions on this section?

BREAK: Minimum break time 10 minutes.

Section 5. Practical.

Time allocated to this section: 1 hour.

Work in small groups (2 - 4 people per group).

1. Ask each group to choose a manual handling task or job that they are familiar with, or use the case studies in Component 5.

Each group needs one scenario.

2. Each group needs to discuss the case study, and then complete the risk assessment checklist and risk control plan.

3. Report back from each group. Allow 15 minutes for all groups.

Section 6. Who's responsible?

Time allocated to Section 6: 15 minutes.

1. Hand out "Who's Responsible?" forms.

2. Give participants about 5 minutes to fill in the sheet.

3. Go through the sheet with the group, discussing the "right" answers for your organisation.

(If you are running short of time, you can just work through the sheet as a group).

Section 7. Conclusion.

Time allocated to Section 7: 5 minutes.

(Refer Overhead Transparency 22)

1. Summarise the main points.

2. Resources. Explain that if they are in doubt about the use of the good practices noted, they can ask for expert help .

3. Allow time for any further questions.

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