COMPONENT 4

Trainee Notes

Component 4 contains notes to be given out at the end of the workshop to all participants. Trainee notes should be photocopied by the trainer, and handed out.

TRAINEE NOTES

Introduction

These notes are a summary of the main points from this training session.

Definition of manual handling.

Manual handling is "any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain a person, animal or thing".

Thus manual handling applies to a wide range of everyday activities that occur in any workplace. Unfortunately, many of these manual handling tasks have led to injuries to workers.

Good Practice.

We have identified general principles and practical methods of dealing with potential manual handling problems in the workplace.

This is a 3 stage approach.

Stage 1. Risk Identification ( Spotting the Problem )

Where are manual handling injuries happening in the workplace?

• Look at injury records
• Talk to employees and their health and safety representatives
• Watch the work in progress

Stage 2. Risk Assessment ( Understanding the Problem )

What is causing these manual handling injuries?

Look at:

• Actions and movements used;
• Layout of the workplace;
• Position of the body while working;
• How often, and for how long, manual handling is done;
• Where the load is positioned and how far it has to be moved;
• Weights and forces involved;
• Characteristics of the loads and equipment;
• Organisation of the work;
• Work environment;
• Skills, experience and age of the workers;
• Type of clothing worn; and
• Special needs of workers.

Stage 3. Risk Control ( Dealing with the Problem )

What changes can be made to prevent these manual handling injuries?

• Redesign the job.
• Provide mechanical handling equipment.
• Provide training in manual handling skills.

Evaluation of the Controls - are the changes made working successfully?

• Have the changes been correctly implemented?
• Are the changes causing further problems?
• Do they help reduce injuries?

Legal setting.

Introduction to the Occupational Health, Safety and Health Act

Under the OSH Act, the general duty of care is a basic concept concerning the responsibilities of employers, employees and other persons involved with the workplace.

Duty of care of employers. (Section 19)

The duty of care of an employer is to ensure that, so far as is practicable, employees are not exposed to hazards while they are working. Employers have to organize safe systems of work, provide information, instruction and training, and consult with health and safety representatives and other employees on health and safety matters at the workplace.

Duty of care of employees. (Section 20)

There is also a duty of care on employees to take reasonable care for their own health and safety, and to avoid harming others. There are specific duties for employees to follow the employer's instructions, use personal protective clothing and equipment provided by employers, take good care of equipment, and to report hazards.

Where relevant, the above duties apply to manual handling.

Using good Practice.

3 stage approach to addressing manual handling issues - risk identification, risk assessment, and risk control.

Risk identification (Spotting the problem).

Definition:

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

Purpose:

• To identify and prioritise 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:

Step 1: Analysis of injury records and incident reports. This will show where injuries are occurring, and if there is a pattern in their occurrence.

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).

Look at the frequency and severity of the injuries in order to determine the priority for risk assessment. The higher the frequency, or greater the severity of injury, the higher the priority.

Step 2: Consultation with employees.

• Talk to the employees doing the job or task which has been identified as a risk. They may be able to tell you specific aspects which cause them problems.
• Talk to the Health and Safety Representatives or Committees who may have information on associated risk factors.

Step 3: Direct observation. You will need to look at the work area, and see the task(s) actually being performed. This can be done in a workplace inspection, and using a checklist.

Any "yes" answers to the checklist indicates that the task requires further assessment. The more "yes" answers, the higher the priority for risk assessment.

Once manual handling risks have been identified and prioritised, the next stage, risk assessment, is undertaken.

Risk assessment (Understanding the problem).

Definition:

• The process of assessing all risk factors identified in the first stage. This includes considering the interaction of the factors.

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; and
• Where a work process or practice is introduced or modified.

Consult with:

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

The process:

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

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

It is important to consider all risk factors - don't jump to early conclusions!

A general assessment checklist has been drawn up, and this has been included in the notes distributed during the workshop.

The checklist is to be used while observing the tasks being done. There should be consultation with employees while completing the checklist.

Note: In some sections, answering "yes" indicates an increased risk. In other sections, the "no" answer indicates the risk. Any answers indicating that an increased risk is present should be accompanied by a brief explanation in the "comments" column. For example, a "no" answer to the question "is there adequate space for all movements involved in the manual handling task", put the reason in the "comments" column - "rubbish and equipment on the floor".

Throughout the section on risk identification and assessment, there is reference to "frequent" or "prolonged". These terms are used to describe the risk of manual handling, but they are not defined. For example, how many times does the handling have to be done to be termed "frequent"? Or how long does the manual handling have to occur before it is termed "prolonged"?

There are no hard and fast rules. During your observation, you can count the number of times, for example, bags of fertiliser are lifted and stacked on a pallet. Based on x times per minute, you could conclude that this handling is "frequent". Note this in your comments on the checklist.

Likewise, timing the period a worker spends bent over the low workbench, would justify your decision to call it "prolonged". Again, note this in your comments.

Don't be concerned if you find that you are indicating the same risk in more than one place on the checklist. The questions often overlap, and as long as the risk is noted somewhere in the checklist, you will be able to take some action in the control stage.

Risk control (Dealing with the problem).

Definition:

• The process of eliminating or reducing identified and assessed 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:

In the past, it was thought that training employees in how to lift correctly was all that was required to reduce their risk of injury. While training is important, the priority in risk control is to eliminate the manual handling task, or if this is not possible, to redesign it to reduce the risk.

The order of priority is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Priority of controls for risks to manual handling.

Priority 1 - Job Re-Design.

The aim of risk control is to eliminate or reduce manual handling risks. One method is to eliminate the manual handling task itself, although this is often not possible. The risk can be controlled by changing a variety of aspects of the work, and the way that the work is done. Job re-design can include one or a combination of the following aspects of the job.

• Modify the object handled.Investigate ways in which the load handled can be reduced, such as by packaging it in smaller quantities or providing handles. By reducing the load, or making it easier to handle, the risk of injury to the employee is reduced.
• Modify the workplace layout. The layout of the workplace can reduce the postural strain placed on employees handling loads. Such as storing heavy items at waist level and adjusting work heights. Tools, and hand or foot controls on equipment need to be considered as factors which can affect work postures, movements and the physical stress placed on employees.
• Rearrange the flow of materials. The way in which materials are moved around the workplace can be changed in order to reduce the amount of handling.
• Use different actions, movements or forces. Investigate ways in which work can be re-designed to reduce bending, twisting, reaching, lifting, lowering, carrying and holding. Some of these could have been achieved by the other job re-design methods listed above, such as modifying the workplace layout.
• Modify the task with mechanical assistance. These are items that assist with manual handling, but don't eliminate it. They include such things as hooks, bars, rollers, jacks, platforms and trestles.
• Modify the task with team lifting. To be effective, team lifting must be coordinated and planned.

Priority 2 - Mechanical Handling Equipment.

Provision of mechanical handling equipment, together with appropriate training in its use, can reduce handling risks. Mechanical handling equipment can be anything from simple levers and conveyors, to cranes, hoists and fork lift trucks.

Priority 3 - Training.

Where job re-design or provision of mechanical handling equipment cannot reduce the risk, employees should receive specific ("particular") training or education in how to carry out the manual handling task with least risk.

The above controls may also be used in combination. In particular, training to undertake the work safely should be included as an integral part of any control measures.

Administrative Controls.

In addition to the 3 areas considered above, other factors could have a bearing on the risk of manual handling. The following factors should also be considered:

• Employees' special needs. An employee's state of health or age may affect their risk of injury from a manual handling task.
• The provision of special clothing, including footwear and gloves, can reduce the risk of injury.

It should be remembered that the risk control options can be divided into both short and long term measures. Short term control measures can be implemented immediately, while other measures requiring further planning or financial committments, can be introduced in the longer term.

Note: It is very important to ensure that further risks to health and safety are not created by the application of control methods aimed at the reduction of manual handling risks.

Therefore, evaluation of control measures is essential.

Return to Preventing Manual Handling Injuries Index

Return to Preventing Manual Handling Injuries Index