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COMPONENT 5ResourcesComponent 5 contains the resources to be used by the trainer in presenting the workshop. This includes all checklists and worksheets for the participants to use during the workshop, as well as copies of all overhead transparencies. Directory of ImagesListed here are all the images prepared for use as overhead transparencies with this training manual. To open the GIF image files click on the name of the overhead listed below.
OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOP
AIM OF THE WORKSHOPTo reduce the risk of manual handling injuries in your workplace. Objectives. By the end of the workshop, you will be able to:
MANUAL HANDLING.Any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to:
a person, animal or thing. MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES IN WAIncidence rate and average time lost.
(Source - State of the Work Environment - manual Handling Injuries WA 1992/93). GOOD MANUAL HANDLING PRACTICEThe 3 stage approach:
RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH ACTEmployers:
Employees:
STRUCTURE OF THE SPINE
ANATOMY OF THE SPINE
MUSCLES
HEIGHTS FOR STORAGE OF LOADS
TYPES OF MUSCLE WORK
PRINCIPLES OF LEVERS
THE EFFECT OF USING THE SPINE AS A LEVER
RISK IDENTIFICATIONDefinition
Purpose
When to do risk identification
RISK IDENTIFICATIONTHE PROCESS Step 1 Analysis of injury records and incident reports.
Step 2 Consultation with employees.
Step 3 Direct observation. RISK ASSESSMENTDefinition:
When to do risk assessment
Consult with:
RISK ASSESSMENTFACTORS TO CONSIDER
WEIGHTS AND FORCES
RISK CONTROLDefinition
Purpose
When to do risk control
Consult with
PRIORITY OF CONTROLS FOR RISKS TO MANUAL HANDLING
RISK CONTROL WORKSHEET(Dealing with the problem)
SUMMARY
Safe Manual Handling Checklist (Checklist 1)The direct observation of work areas and of the task being performed will assist in identifying risk. Workplace inspections, audits and walk through surveys, and the use of checklists such as this one, can assist in the risk identification process. If any of the questions in the checklist result in a YES answer, further assessment of that risk factor is required. Generally the more YES answers that result for a particular task, then the higher the priority for the risk assessment. Description of Work Location: ______________________________________________________ Date:_______________________________________________________________________________ Task Description:___________________________________________________________________ Assessed by:________________________________________________________________________ Employees' Representative(s):______________________________________________________ MOVEMENTS, POSTURE AND LAYOUTDuring Manual Handling
Task and Object 6. Is manual handling performed frequently or for long time periods by the employee(s)? 7. Are loads moved or carried over long distances? 8. Is the weight of the object: (a) more than 4.5 kg and handled from a seated position? (b) more than 16 kg and handled in a working posture other than seated? (c) more than 55 kg? Note: Weight is not used to prescribe absolute limits, but is one of the important factors to be considered when assessing and controlling risk. 9. For pushing, pulling, or other applications of forces: are large push/pulling forces involved? 10. Is the load difficult or awkward to handle, for example, due to its size, shape, temperature, instability or unpredictability? 11. Is it difficult or unsafe to get an adequate grip of the load? Work Environment 12. Is the task performed in a confined space? 13. Is the lighting inadequate for safe manual handling? 14. Is the climate particularly cold or hot? 15. Are the floor working surfaces, cluttered, uneven, slippery or otherwise unsafe? Individual Factors 16. Is the employee new to the work or returning from an extended period away from work? 17. Are there age-related factors, disabilities or other special factors that may affect task performance? 18. Does the employee's clothing or personal protective equipment interfere with manual handling performance? RISK ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST (Checklist 2)1. Actions and MovementsFor information about this risk factor see page 16, paragraph 4.6 of the Manual Handling Code of Practice. Answering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Is the load shared unevenly between both hands, or lifted by one hand only? 2. Is the object pushed or pulled across the front of the body? 3. Is there a need to bend over to one side to lift an object or exert a force? 4. Are two actions performed at the same time when one action is holding an unsupported fixed position? 5. Are several tasks performed in the one position where some are best done in a seated position and others best done in a standing position? 2. Workplace and Work Station LayoutFor information about this risk factor see page 17 paragraphs 4.8 and 4.9 of the Manual Handling Code of Practice. Answering NO to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Is the layout appropriate for the manual handling task and the physical dimensions of the employee performing the task? 2. Is there adequate space for all the movements involved in the manual handling task? 3. Are appropriate mechanical handling aids readily available for the tasks? 4. Are the working heights adjustable or matched to the size of the employees and the tasks? 5. Is there adequate clear space for moving legs and feet? 6. Are the different manual handling tasks performed by one person arranged so that excessive movement is avoided? 3. Working Posture and PositionFor information about this risk factor see page 18, paragraphs 4.11 and 4.12 and Figure 3 of the Manual Handling Code of Practice. Answering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Is the object presented to the employee in a position which makes it difficult to reach or grasp? 2. During manual handling, is there frequent or prolonged: (i) above shoulder reach? (ii) forward bending of the back? (iii) twisting of the back? (iv) sideways bending of the back? 4. Duration and Frequency of Manual HandlingAnswering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Is the task carried out frequently? 2. Does the task require repetitive handling by hands and arms during a work period? 3. Is handling performed over an extended period of time? 5. :Location of Loads and Distances MovedAnswering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Is the load carried over long distances? 2. Is the load located below mid-thigh height? 3. Is the load located above shoulder height? 4. Does the load have to be placed accurately into position? 6. Weight and ForcesAnswering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. When sliding, pulling or pushing an object, is the object difficult to move? 2. Is the employee required to exert a large amount of force while seated? 3. Is the employee required to push/pull while seated without having good seating and solid foot support? 4. Are loads above 55kg lifted, lowered or carried without mechanical assistance or team lifting? 5. Is the weight of the load above 16kg (a "yes" response indicates more care is required in the assessment process) 6. Are loads above 4.5kg being lifted, lowered or carried in the seated position? 7. Characteristics of Loads and EquipmentAnswering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Does the person or animal need to be moved in a special way to ensure their health and safety? 2. Is the person or animal disturbed, excited or moving vigorously? 3. Is the object an awkward shape to carry in a balanced posture? 4. Is the object difficult to grasp or hold? 5. Is the object unstable or unbalanced, or does it have contents that may move suddenly? 6. Is the object smooth, slippery, greasy or wet? 7. Does the object have sharp edges or protrusions? 8. Is the object very hot or cold? 9. Does the object block the view of the employee when being handled? 10. Does one person handle sheet material or other large-sized loads without straps, special holders or a second person to assist? 11. Is the object more than 50cm wide (measured in direction across the body)? 12. Is the object more than 30cm long (measured in direction away from the body)? 13. Are any two of the object's dimensions more than 75cm? 8. Work OrganisationAnswering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Is the work frequently affected by bottlenecks, or sudden changes or delays to the flow of materials? 2. Is the work affected by unavailability of people to complete tasks within a deadline? 3. Team lifting is not provided and/ or safely organised when required? 4. Are there insufficient numbers of employees to carry out work including where peak workloads occur? 5. Is there a lack of an effective maintenance program for tools, plant and equipment used for manual handling? 6. Are procedures for reporting and fixing unsafe equipment or environmental conditions inadequate? 7. Is the workflow not smooth and even? 8. Is there a lack of effective selection/purchasing, instruction and maintenance programs for loads, equipment and mechanical handling devices? 9. Work EnvironmentAnswering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Are the floors and surfaces underfoot uneven or slippery? 2. Are there different floor levels in the workplace? 3. Is the workplace untidy with a lack of attention to housekeeping details? 4. Are there extremes of heat, cold, wind or humidity? 5. Are there high levels of fumes, dusts, gases, or vapours? 6. Is there excessive vibration? 7. Is the task performed in a confined space? 8. Is the lighting below the levels recommended for Interior Lighting and the Visual Environment? 10. Skills and ExperienceAnswering NO to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Has the employee received appropriate training/education in manual handling hazards and/or techniques? 2. Has the employee received appropriate training in recognising risk and evaluating tasks in order to select and apply appropriate handling techniques? 3. Has training, appropriate to the tasks, been provided which relates to manual handling? 4. Has the employee been properly inducted into the job practices and safety requirements in the workplace? 5. For heavy handling tasks, has the employee had previous experience with heavy manual handling? 6. Are the demands of the task within the physical capacity of the employee? 11. Age, Clothing and Special NeedsAnswering YES to any of these questions or varying from the correct action and movement indicates an increased risk. 1. Are employees under 18 years of age required to lift, lower or carry objects weighing more than 16kg without mechanical assistance, team lifting or particular training? 2. Does the clothing worn adversely affect the ability of the person to perform manual handling? 3. Are any employees returning to work from an illness or extended absence from work? 4. Are any employees pregnant? 5. Does an employee have any specific disability? 6. Are there any employees with other special needs which require consideration? Risk Assessment Checklist for the Safe Handling of People (Checklist 3)Work Location__________________________________________________________________________ Date__________________________________________________________________________________ Task Description________________________________________________________________________ Assessed by____________________________________________________________________________ Employees' Representative(s)______________________________________________________________ Tick the appropriate response. A YES answer means that control measures should be considered. 1. Characteristics of people as loads a. Does the person require special handling? b. Is the person: (i) likely to shift or move about? (ii) slippery or wet? (iii) difficult to grip? (iv) awkward to handle? (v) unstable or unbalanced? (vi) uncooperative? c. Does the person block the view of the employee during handling? d. Does one employee handle large and/or heavy persons without assistance from assistive devices or a second person? e. Is any equipment attached to the person being moved? 2. Workplace layout a. Does the layout prevent the employee adopting an upright and forward facing posture? b. Is the task obscured in any way from the employee? c. Is the employee unable to perform handling tasks between his/her knuckle and shoulder height? d. Is access to the person restricted? e. Is there limited space for movements in the task? f. Is there insufficient space for the employee's leg and feet movements? g. Is the task performed without mechanical aids? h. Are working heights inappropriate to the employee's size and the task performed? 3. Actions and movements a. Does the employee experience undue discomfort from actions during the task? b. Are the employee's movements sudden or uncontrolled? c. Are there repetitive over-reaching movements? d. Does the employee need to move his/her joints to the extremes of their range? e. Are these joint movements prolonged or repetitive? f. Is the load unevenly shared between both hands? g. Is the person lifted by one hand only? h. Is the person pushed or pulled across the front of the employee's body? i. Does the employee need to bend over to one side to lift or to exert a force? j. While holding an unsupported position, is another action performed by the employee? 4. Postures and positions a. Is the employee's posture uncomfortable during the task? b. Is one posture required to be maintained for long periods without variation of activity or rest? c. Is the task performed in a position which makes it difficult to reach, grasp or handle? d. Does the task require frequent, prolonged or repetitive: (i) above shoulder reach? (ii) forward bending? (iii) sideways bending? (iv) twisting of the back? 5. Task duration and frequency a. Does the task require frequent or prolonged: (i) pushing? (ii) pulling? (iii) carrying and holding? (iv) restraining? b. Can the task become monotonous and reduce alertness? c. Does the task require prolonged periods of effort resulting in fatigue? d. Does the task involve sustained or repetitive use of the smaller muscles of the hands? 6. Locations and distances a. Is the person to be carried up or down stairs? b. Is the person: (i) located above the employee's shoulder? ii) below mid-thigh height? (iii) requiring extended reach? 7. Weights and Forces a. Is the person lifted, lowered, carried, held or moved at a distance from the employee's body? b. Is a large amount of force required to: (i) push? (ii) pull? (iii) lift? (iv) lower? (v) carry? (vi) hold? (vii) restrain? (viii) cope with sudden movements? c. When sliding, pulling or pushing,is the person difficult to move? d. Is the employee required to exert a large force while seated? e. Is the employee required to push/pull while seated without having good seating and stable foot support? 8. Work organisation a. Is the work flow affected by congestion or sudden changes or delays? b. Is the work affected by insufficient staff numbers to complete tasks within a deadline, or at peak workloads? c. Are assistive devices unavailable or unused? d. Are policies and procedures on the use of assistive devices not available? e. Should team lifting be a requirement for this job? f. Is there ineffective maintenance of mechanical handling aids and equipment? g. Are people handling tasks performed without planned recovery time? h. Are there inadequate procedures for reporting and fixing unsafe equipment or environmental conditions? i. For mechanical handling aids and equipment, are there deficiencies in: (i) selection processes? (ii) purchasing specifications? (iii) record keeping related to health and safety? (iv) instruction in safe use? 9. Work environment a. Does rain or water affect the task? b. Are the floors/surfaces underfoot uneven or slippery? c. Are there different floor levels? d. Is the workplace untidy? e. Are there extremes of heat, cold, wind or humidity? f. Are there high levels of fumes, dusts, gases, vapours? g. Is there excessive vibration? h. Is lighting inadequate for the task? i. Is the task performed in a confined area? j. For seated work: (i) is the seating uncomfortable? (ii) does the height of the chair contribute to discomfort? (iii) does lumbar support need to be improved? (iv) does leg room need to be improved? k. For prolonged standing work, does a footrest need to be provided? l. Does noise interfere with communication? 10. Skills and experience a. Is there a need for more employee training in recognising risks and knowing how to deal with them? b. Is there a need for improved induction training? c. Is the employee inexperienced in heavy handling tasks if required for the job? 11. Personal characteristics a. Are the demands of the job not matched to the physical characteristics of the employee? b. Is a worker under 18 years performing tasks of handling people? c. Are at-risk groups (e.g. smaller or older workers) performing people handling tasks? 12. Clothing a. Does clothing design hinder the use of appropriate and safe techniques for people handling tasks? b. Is inadequate footwear worn for the task? c. Is the employee's jewellery or hair likely to be caught or pulled by a person being handled? d. Will the requirement to wear gloves or personal protective equipment significantly increase the risk of injury due to reduced grip stability, dexterity and strength of grip? 13. Special needs a. Does the employee have temporary special needs, e.g. pregnancy, returning from illness or extended leave? b. Does the employee have any permanent special needs not addressed elsewhere?
RISK CONTROL (Dealing with the problem)Safe Manual Handling Risk Control.
Case Study 1 - Risk Identification (spotting the problem)Analysis of accident reports, consultation and observation have identified the following task as containing manual handling risks. A worker has the job of sawing lengths of timber into small pieces. Bundles of timber, in 3 metre leng ths, are brought in on a fork lift, and placed on the floor behind the saw bench. The saw is mounted on a bench, located at about hip height for the worker. Each 3 metre length of timber is carried to the bench, lined up and sawed. Cut lengths are placed on a pallet, and stacked up to about shoulder height.
Layout of saw bench and equipment.
Risk assessment (understanding the problem).
Risk control (dealing with the problem). Case Study 2. - Risk Identification (spotting the problem)Analysis of injury records, consultation and observation have identified the following task as containing manual handling risks. A 1800mm (6 foot) tall nursing assistant sustained a low back injury while transferring a patient from his bed to an arm chair. The injury occurred at the end of the shift. The patient, who can sometimes be uncooperative, needs a bear-hug transfer to get him from the bed to the chair. Both the arm chair and the bed height are fixed, and are below knee height for this nursing assistant. The patient's cubicle is occupied by his bed, bedside cabinet and the arm chair as shown in the diagram. The nursing assistant's other duties include showering, toiletting and dressing 15 extremely dependant residents.
Layout of patient cubicle.
Risk assessment (understanding the problem).
Risk control (dealing with the problem). Case Study 3 - Risk Identification (spotting the problem)Analysis of injury records, consultation and observation have identified the following task as containing manual handling risks. The job of nightfill workers in a local supermarket starts off with them pulling pallets of stock on pallet trolleys from the back dock into the store. Each pallet is placed at the end of an aisle. The contents of the pallet are unloaded into a shopping trolley. This can cause some difficulty as the pallet is stacked to shoulder height or above (for some of the shorter workers). In addition, stock on the far side of the pallet is often difficult to reach. Once the trolley is full, it is pushed up and down the aisles, and the employee takes cartons from the trolley, putting them on the floor in front of the corresponding place on the shelves. The process continues until the pallet is empty. The nightfill workers then work in the aisles. The cartons are now opened up, and stock placed on shelves. The shelves vary in height from way above shoulder height, to ankle height. There is one step ladder, used when putting excess stock on the top of the shelves.
Risk assessment (understanding the problem)
Risk control (dealing with the problem) Case Study 4 - Risk Identification (spotting the problem)Analysis of injury records, consultation and observation have identified the following task as containing manual handling risks. Council workers laying footpaths and kerbing have been complaining about the job. At the depot, they have to load up the slabs by hand, from where they are stacked on the ground, and put them in the back of the truck. After driving to the site, the process is reversed, and slabs are off loaded and laid. Sometimes the slabs are off loaded at quite a distance from where they are eventually laid. Each slab weighs 30 - 40 kg. By the end of the day, most workers are complaining of sore backs.
Risk assessment (understanding the problem)
Risk control (dealing with the problem) Manual Handling - Who's Responsible?Read each statement and decide who is responsible for carrying that out. Tick the appropriate box or boxes. (There may be more than one person responsible).
Return to Preventing Manual Handling Injuries Index
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