Manual handling

A manual handling operation may be defined as 'any transporting or supporting of a load (including lifting, putting down, pushing pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force'.

Approximately one third of all injuries reported to the enforcing authorities are due to incorrect manual handling. Over £100million a year is lost due to injuries at work associated with incorrect manual handling. A major contributor factor is the lack of proper training, supervision, information and instruction.

Legislation

• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (amended 2002)
  Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 2174
  The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 © Crown Copyright 2002

Injuries associated with manual handling

Injuries to discs, ligaments, muscles, etc are of a cumulative nature rather than being attributable to any single handling incident. 90 percent of back troubles are attributable to disc lesions which cause "pinching" pains. Ligaments and tendons may tear. Hernias may develop after straining the muscle wall tissue. Dropping objects on body parts can cause fractures, abrasions and cuts, etc.

Injuries during manual handling operations are caused by incorrect lifting (forces of compression made on spine, ligaments, and tendons); pushing and pulling (high stresses exerted on the body when pushing rather than pulling); and, carrying (muscles may tire depending upon how the load is being carried).

Common manual handling statistics connected with injuries are:

• 65 percent strains
• 9 percent superficial
• 7 percent other
• 7 percent contusion
• 7 percent laceration
• 5 percent fractures

Sites of injury caused by incorrect handling are:

• 45 percent back
• 16 percent finger/thumb
• 13 percent arm
• remainder affecting lower limbs, arms, torso

Reducing the risk of injury

• carry out a risk assessment
• lifting whilst bending forwards can be four times more stressful than lifting with an upright back
• adopt an ergonomic approach in the design of manual handling operations as a whole - fit the operation to the individual and not the individual to the operation
• use mechanical assistance - levers, hoists, trolleys etc
• involve the workforce
• refer to industry specific guidance
• improve the task
• provide personal protective equipment as a last resort
• reduce risk of injury from the load by smaller loads, known weights, no sharp edges etc
• improve the working environment - good housekeeping, flooring, lighting etc
• individual selection - fitness, strength, build etc
• produce a check list
• provide training

Manual handling assessment

Risk assessments are required under health and safety regulations. Employers must take into account the task, load, working environment and the individual capability. See further information below for a useful guide to carrying out manual handling assessments.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health runs courses on manual handling. Visit their website for details.

Further information

• Getting to grips with manual handling, a short guide for employers [PDF] (file size 230Kb) Health and Safety Executive (HSE), ISBN 0717617548