Manual Handling of

Loads

Frank Keenan,
EHS Manager,
PPI Adhesive Products Ltd.

20/07/09 1
 WHAT IS MANUAL HANDLING ?
Manual Handling is the transporting or supporting of a load
by one or more people and includes

And which by means of its characteristics or of unfavourable

20/07/09
ergonomic conditions, involves risk, particularly of back
2
 Manual Handling-
a Life Tool
 Why Manual Handling
courses?
 Legislation
 The skeleton
 How injuries occur
 Flexibility
 Ergonomics
 Principles of lifting

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 WHY ATTEND THIS TRAINING DAY ?
To prevent back injury & its consequences

 Pain & decreased mobility

 Affects hobbies, family & social life

 Financial consequences if unable to work

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 STATISTICS
 Accident statistics
 >30% in the Western

world
 80-90% will suffer back
pain
 Build up over time
 Early return to work key
to recovery
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 Irish Legislation
 SHWW Act (1989)
 SHWW (General Applications)
Regulations (1993)
 SHWW (Pregnant Employees
etc.) Regulations (2000)
 SHWW Act (2005)
 SHWW (General Applications)
Regulations (2007)

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 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
Act (2005)
 Replaces 1989 Act
 Defines “reasonably practicable”
 Extends employers responsibility to
contractors etc.
 Allows for issues such as intoxicants
and other psychosocial issues to be
dealt with
 More detailed Safety Statement
based on Risk Assessment

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 Employer’s Responsibilities
 Provide a safe place to work
 Safe equipment/ safe systems
 PPE
 Safety devices
 Training and Information
 Supervision
 Emergency Plans
 Competent person to examine H&S
issues

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 Employee’s Responsibilities
 Must take reasonable care of own
safety and others that may be
affected by their activities
 To cooperate with management to
comply with the law
 To use PPE provided for their own
safety
 Not to misuse/interfere with
equipment
 Report defects to the employer
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 General Applications Regulations
(2007)
 Extended responsibilities
of all parties.
 Definition of “Director”.
 Covers areas such as
VDU’s, PPE, workplace
equipment, electricity,
notification of accidents/
dangerous occurrences.

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 MANUAL HANDLING REGULATIONS
2007 The employer must ……….
 Avoid Manual Handling (Organisational or Mechanical Means)
 If Manual Handling cannot be avoided carry out risk assessment
T.I.L.E.
 If Manual Handling cannot be avoided take organisational
measures, use appropriate means or give employee means to
reduce the risk involved with manual handling
 Protect particularly sensitive risk groups (see next slide)
 Where tasks are entrusted to an employee, take their capabilities
into account.
 Provide training & information (Weight & C.O.G. of load)

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 SENSITIVE RISK GROUPS
 Children & Young Persons

 Pregnant, Post Natal & Breast Feeding

Women

 Night Work & Shift Work

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 SCHEDULE 3
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOAD
Too heavy/large
Un weildy/difficult to grasp
Unstable/contents likely to shift
Stooping/twisting
Contours/consistency esp. in collision

WORKING ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACTIVITY

PHYSICAL EFFORT REQUIRED
Not enough Room (vertically) Over frequent/prolonged Physical
Too strenuous
Unable to handle loads at safe height effort of the spine
Twisting movement of trunk
Floor uneven/variations in levels Insufficient rest/recovery of the body
Sudden movement of the load
Floor or footrest unstable Excessive lifting, lowering, carrying
Made with body in unstable posture
Temperature, Humidity, Ventilation Distances

INDIVIDUAL RISK FACTORS

Employee
Physically unsuited to carry out task
Wearing unsuitable clothing, footwear
Does not have adequate/appropriate
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 PROTECTION OF PREGNANT,
POST NATAL & BREAST FEEDING
EMPLOYEES 2007
Applies to women The employer
MUST……
WHO ……….
 Carry out a risk assessment
 Are Pregnant (Schedule 8)
&
 Have recently given  If necessary ↓ risk by……
 Changing work conditions /
birth (14 weeks) working hours
 Are breastfeeding  Alternative work
 H & S leave
(26 weeks)

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 Control of Manual Handling
tasks
 Where there is a risk of
injury- avoid manual handling
 If it is unavoidable, a risk
assessment must be done
 Training and information must
be provided to employees,
who must accept this
 Competent person to examine
H&S issues
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 Guideline weights for Manual
Handling
Guideline weights

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 Effects on the
Guideline weights
 Twisting during lifting operation reduces weights
by:
 10 % twisting through 45o
 20% twisting through 90o
 Frequency of operation also reduces guideline
weights:
 30% for 1/ 2 times per minute
 50% for 5/ 8 times per minute
 80% for >12 times per minute

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 Points to note:
 Everybody's
responsibility
 Legislation being
updated regularly
 More awareness of
your safety

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 STRUCTURE OF
THE SPINE

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 OBJECTIVES
Skeletal system (Bones & joints of
spinal column)

 Discs
 Soft tissue
(muscles & ligaments)

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 The musculoskeletal
system
 206 bones in an adult
 Divided into 2 groups
 3 major tasks
 4 principle types of bone
 3 types of joints
 >600 muscles- largest:
quadriceps

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 The Spine
 33 bones divided into 5
regions
 Upper 24 separated by
disks- allowing various
degrees of movement
 S- shaped

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 POSTURES TO BE AVOIDED
(Where, why & how to avoid these postures)

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 The Vertebrae

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 The Vertebral Functional
Unit
 Each vertebra consists
of:
 Pedicles

 Transverse processes

 Facet joints

 Posterior superior

spine
 Spinal canal

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 The Facet Joint
 Restricts twisting
movement of the
lumbar region of
the spine
 Allows forward and
backward bending
of the spine

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 The Lumbar Disc
 2 separate parts
 Annulus
 Nucleus
 Functions:
 Allows movement
 Cushions shock
 Separates bones
 Allows nerves to
exit

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 SOFT TISSUE: LIGAMENTS
 Taut bands of
fibrous tissue
 Flexible but not
elastic (Avoid over-stretching)
 Poor blood supply
(Heal very slowly)

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 The muscles
 Muscles in the back-
attached to T. Processes .
 Shortens by contraction-
moves joints.
 Only pull- cannot push.
 Strongest in mid range.

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 SOFT TISSUE: MUSCLE
MUSCLES WORK
DYNAMICLY & STATICALLY

X
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 HOW THE SPINE IS INJURED

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 OBJECTIVES
 Disc: degeneration,
prolapse
 Soft tissue:
muscle,tendon,
ligaments, joint capsule
 Bony injury: arthritis,
fracture of the arch or
end plate

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 DISC DEGENERATION
 Natural Ageing Process

 Begins @ age 30

 Disc Looses its Water

Content
 Accelerated by poor
posture & lifting
techniques

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 RESULTS OF DISC
DEGENERATI0N
Slack ligaments Arthritis

Slipped disc

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 SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
 Overstretched
 Muscles are torn when cold
 Ligaments are torn because they are not elastic
 May become slack due to disc degeneration
 Overloaded
 Muscles are torn if load is too heavy
AND IF

 Muscles do not have enough time to

recover (repetitive work)

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 Prolapsed Disc (“Slipped
Disc”)

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 STOOPING V’S STRAIGHT LIFT

X 

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 AVOID STOOPING AND
TWISTING

X X

STOOPING TWISTING

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 BONE INJURY
 The partly movable
joints:
 Facet joint (Arthritis
due to wear and tear)
 Sacro iliac joint

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 WHAT IS TO BE LEARNT
 As we do not always initially feel pain when we
cause damage to our spine we may think all is
o.k.
 But
Be warned!!!
Injuries can build up over time. Bad postures and
bad handling techniques may cause problems
later on in life.

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 FITNESS FOR WORK

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 OBJECTIVES
 What is fitness?

 Muscles relevant to manual handling

 Safety when exercising

 Benefits of fitness

 Stretch break, How to use large leg muscles

for manual handling (weight transference/
ankle, knee & hip movements)

20/07/09 42
 WHAT IS FITNESS
“Ability to do ones daily work with
enough energy left over”

 Strength

 Aerobic (Heart & lungs)

 Flexibility

 Endurance

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 RELEVANT MUSCLE GROUPS
 FLEXIBILITY
 Calves
 Hamstrings

 STRENGTH:
 Quadriceps (Thighs)
 Abdominals (Stomach

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 ELEMENTS OF SAFE STRETCH
 Warm up/cool down
 Avoid sudden jerky movements
 Stretch to point of slight
discomfort
 Hold stretch for 30 seconds x 3
times
 Stretch for minimum of 6 weeks to
restore flexibility

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 BENIFITS OF FITNESS
 More stamina and energy
 Decreased risk of injury
 Improved mental alertness
 Improved sense of well-being
 May live longer!!! If not, you’ll
definitely….
 ‘Get more out of life !!!!!’.

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 ERGONOMICS
AT

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WORK 47
 OBJECTIVES
 Definition of Ergonomics

 Manual Handling Assessment

 Benefit of Ergonomics

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 Definition
 Ergonomics aims to “fit the job, environment
and equipment to the person” instead of making
the person fit the above (e.g. car, sports
equipment, kitchen design.

 This will ensure that work is done in a way that

minimises physical and mental effort while
maximising efficiency.

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 RISK FACTORS
Where, why & how to avoid at work?

X
STOOPING TWISTING

LOADS
20/07/09 AWAY FROM BODY 50
OVER REACHING
 YOU MUST ASSESS YOUR JOB TO SEE IF
YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING IT SAFELY

T task
I individual

L load
20/07/09 51
 T.I.L.E.
TASK
Loads away from the body
Twisting/stooping
Reaching upwards
Long carrying distances
Strenuous effort
Large vertical movements

LOAD
Heavy ENVIRONMENT
INDIVIDUAL Bulky/unweildy Poor floors
Require unusual capabilities
Hazard to those with health problems Difficult to grasp Variations in levels
Hazard to those who are pregnant Unsteady/unpredictable Constraints on postures
Require special information/training Harmful – Lighting conditions
Require PPE
Co-operative Strong air movements
Attachments Hot, cold humid conditions
Walking aids
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 SOLUTIONS
SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS LONG TERM SOLUTIONS

 Extra staff  Relocate Kitchen into main

 Improve lighting Hospital
 Fill Potholes
 Fix Wheels  Contract out catering to
outside company
 Training
 Put ramp at kerb
 Reflective clothing

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 BENEFITS OF ERGONOMICS
I f you assess your job, you will be…

 Better able to recognise potentially harmful tasks

 Safer – decreased risk of injury

 More comfortable – more energy, less stress

 More efficient & productive

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 PRINCPLES OF
SAFER
MANUAL
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HANDLING 55
 OBJECTIVES
 The thought process involved before loads
are moved

 Principles of manual handling

 Team handling

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 BEFORE ANY HANDLING TASK
“Think before you begin” AVOID
 Must you do the task at all?


 If you must do the task, Assess – T.I.L.E

 Can the task be made more manageable by:
Spliting the load
Getting help from other staff member
Using equipment 
20/07/09 57
 The 8 Principles of
Lifting
 Assess the task (area & load)-
TILE
 Bend the knees
 Ensure broad stable base
 Back straight (Neutral position &
Avoid combined bending & twisting)
 Firm grip with palm of hand
 Arms in line with trunk
 Weight close to centre of
gravity
 Turn feet in direction of
movement
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 SPINAL BIOMECHANICS

 X X
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 5 Types of basic lift
 To and from the
floor
 To and from a
bench
 To and from a
height
 Pushing
 Pulling

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 TEAM HANDLING
 Be aware of limitations of team handling
 Work with people of similar height
 Appoint a leader
 Plan the manoeuvre
 Agree a command, to ensure a smooth co-
co-ordinated movement
(Ready, Steady lift.. pull…lower etc.)

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 Conclusion
 This training course must
be used outside work- LIFE
TOOL
 Always follow the 8
Principles wherever you are
(whenever possible)
 Remember- you only have
one back- take care of it
and it will “back” you up
for life!
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 The Radon Problem
U-238
4.5 billion yr
U-234
250,000 yr

Pa-234
1.2 min
Th-234 Th-230
24 days 77,000 yr
Ra-226
1,600 yr

Rn-222
3.8 days
Po-218 Po-214 Po-210
3.05 min 164 microsec 138 days

Bi-214 Bi-210
19.7 min 5.0 days

Pb-214 Pb-210 Pb-206 Stable

26.8 min 22 yr
20/07/09 63
 Use of intoxicants
 Companies moving
towards manditory
testing/random testing.
 Can have a very serious
impact on work H&S.
 Where possible let your
employer know if on
meds that affect work.

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 Noise
 Reduction in exposure levels
 Obligations if levels are between
80 and 85 dB A and above 85
dB A
 If levels vary daily then a
weekly average can be used
 Preventative audiometric testing

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 Chemical Agents
 Use of PPE when using
chemicals
 Personal hygeine is
important
 Familiarise yourself with the
material MSDS
 Use proper soap etc to claen
affected areas NOT solvents

20/07/09 66
 Reviewing MSDS’s
 Check for associated
hazards (Sec. 3)
 PPE to be used (Sec. 8)
 Toxicological information
(Sec. 11)
 Other areas of interest
(Sec. 4, 5 & 7)
 New material = new
MSDS
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 Dignity at Work
 People need no longer feel
threatened by other
employees or managers
 Physical and sexual
harassment dealt with
through H&S Legs and
Regs.

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