21337 Procedure - Safe Manual Handling

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLINGVersion3.2Last updatedEquality Impact AssessmentOwning department1.2.3.11/12/2014Review dateLowHealth and Safety / Risk04/12/2017About this Procedure1.1.This procedure explains the principles of safe manual handling and isaimed at all staff / officers.1.2.More than a third of all injuries that result in more than three daysabsence reported to HSE are caused by manual handling, i.e. thetransporting or supporting of loads by hand or by bodily force.1.3.The most recent survey of work-related illness estimated that in 1.1million people in Great Britain suffered from musculoskeletal disorders(MSD) caused or made worse by their current or past work. Anestimated 12.3 million working days were lost due to these workrelated MSD. On average each sufferer took about 20 days off in that12-month period.Risk Assessments / Health and Safety Considerations2.1.Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations1999 it is the duty of management to carry out risk assessments of thework activities staff are required to undertake.2.2.Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 employershave a duty to avoid the need for manual handling operations. Wherethis is not practical to do this the employer must carry out a riskassessment of such operations and reduce the risks to the lowestreasonable practical level.2.3.Manual handling is the movement of objects, people and animals aspart of a work activity.Procedure3.1.As it is impossible for Hampshire Constabulary staff to avoid the needto carry out manual handling operations, manual handling riskassessments are required to be undertaken.3.2.All manual handling work activities must be assessed using the manualhandling assessment form HS10 available in Standard Forms, except

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLINGfor office activities, please use the force Risk Assessment available onthe Health and Safety Risk Assessments Intranet pages.3.3.Where staff are involved in emergency situations it may not always bepossible to carry out a formal risk assessment, such as assisting aninjured member of the public or other emergency services at the sceneof an accident. In these situations a dynamic risk assessment shouldbe carried out as follows:3.4.Dynamic Risk Assessment Method3.4.1.3.4.2.The Thought Process: Evaluate situation, task and persons at risk. Is operational intelligence available, is it currentand reliable? What tasks need to be carried out? What hazards are identified surrounding thissituation? What risks are associated with these hazards - topolice, other emergency personnel and residents? What resources are available? Select methods of work. Consider possible methods of work (methods) andchoose the most appropriate. Consider procedures that have been agreed inpre-planning and training. Ensure that personnel are competent to carry outthe tasks they have been allocated. Assess the chosen methods of work (are the risksproportional to the benefits?).If ‘yes’ proceed with tasks after ensuring: Goals, both individual and team, are understood. Responsibilities have been allocated. Safety measures and procedures are understood.

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLING3.4.3.If ‘no’ then: Introduce additional controls. Eliminate or reduce any remaining risks to anacceptable level, if possible by introducing suchcontrol measures as;3.4.3.1. Personnel Protective Equipment.3.4.3.2. Use of specialist officers.3.4.3.3. Other public services.3.4.3.4.3.4.4.If any risks remain, does the benefit gained from carrying outthe tasks outweigh the possible consequences if the risks arerealised?3.4.5.If the benefits outweigh the risks, then proceed with thetasks.If the risks outweigh the benefits do not proceed with thetasks, but consider viable alternatives.3.4.6.3.4.7.3.5.Reassess systems of work and additional controlmeasures.Where feasible incorporate any lessons learnt relevant intothe generic/standard risk assessments.Manual Handling Risk Assessment3.5.1.In carrying out the risk assessment a number of factors mustbe taken into account:3.5.2.The Task: Is the load held or manipulated at a distanceaway from the body, as regardless of the technique used, notkeeping the load close to the body will increase the stress onthe back and the risk of injury. Does the task involve twistingat the waist, as stress on the lower back increasessignificantly? The same can also be said for stooping. If youare required to reach upwards this places additional stresseson the arms and back and makes control of the load moredifficult. If required to carry the load for long distancesphysical stress on the back is prolonged leading to fatigueand further injury. One of the control measures to reducemanual handling is to provide equipment upon which the loadcan be moved around which requires pushing or pulling. It isimportant to note that pushing and pulling can require staff to

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLINGbend over to be able to push or pull the equipment puttingstress on the lower back. In addition it also encourages staffto move more items than they would if they were carryingthem, increasing the loads on the back still further. It is alsoimportant to note that operations which combine stooping ortwisting should be avoided.3.5.3.As you can see from the above chart, individual capacitydegreases the further away from the body you hold the loadand the general stress on the back increases.3.5.4.The Load: The weight of a load is an important factor inaccessing the risk from manual handling, however it is notthe main factor, you also have to take account of the sizeand shape of the load as well.3.5.5.The Work Environment: The working environment canoften effect how staff carry out manual handling operations,

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLINGcausing them to stoop, twist and bend and should be takenaccount of during the assessment.3.5.6.3.6.Reviewing the Risk Assessment3.6.1.3.7.The risk assessment should be reviewed annually, orwherever there is a change to the manual handling workactivities, to ensure that they are suitable and sufficient.Individual Capability3.7.1.3.8.Information on the load: Where reasonably practicableinformation should be given on the weight of the load to becarried. Weight can be marked on the packaging or box thatis to be carried and is quite often done by suppliers ofproducts. However, staff should be careful not to really solelyon these weight markings, as the package may have beenreused without changing the weight markings.The ability to carry out manual handling will vary betweenindividuals. In carrying out your assessment you need to takeaccount of the ability of your staff to carry out the work. Doyou have staff who have health problems or a history of backproblems which could be made worse by the activities youare asking them to perform? However, staff should not berestricted from carrying out manual handling unless theyhave a good medical reason. Where staff are pregnant, aseparate pregnant and nursing mothers assessment must becarried out using form HS8, please see H&S RiskAssessments Intranet page. Most people manage to dealwith most attacks of back pain themselves. However, wherestaff have been off sick due to a back injury or are suffering aback injury, if they are required to carry out heavy manualhandling they should be assessed by their GP to ensure theyare fit to carry out manual handling activities before returningto work.Training3.8.1.All staff who are required to carry out manual handling mustbe provided with training in safe lifting and carryingtechniques (see Procedure 21321 - Health and SafetyTraining). Please note: Police Officers other than those inspecific roles such as search teams and body handlingteams, will receive training in the handling of suspects aspart of their officer safety training. All staff who sustain aback injury whilst at work when carrying out manual handling

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLINGactivities, must attend the manual handling course forretraining on the correct techniques.3.9.Safe Manual Handling Techniques3.9.1.Before attempting to lift anything you should assess the itemto decide if you can lift it, by rocking the item to assess itsweight.3.9.2.Get a firm grip. Try to keep the arms within the boundaryformed by the legs. The optimum position and nature of thegrip depends on the circumstances and individualpreference, but it must be secure. A hook grip is lessfatiguing than keeping the fingers straight. If it is necessaryto vary the grip as the lift proceeds, do this as smoothly aspossible.3.9.3.Feet should be shoulder width apart and knees bent, backstraight.3.9.4.Don’t jerk. Carry out the lifting movement. Smoothly, usingthe legs to perform the lift, raising the chin as the lift begins,keeping control of the load.3.9.5.Move the feet. Don’t twist the trunk when turning to theside.3.9.6.Keep close to the load. Keep the load close to the trunk foras long as possible. Keep the heaviest side of the load nextto the trunk. If a close approach to the load is not possible try

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLINGsliding it towards you before attempting to lift it. Do not lookdown at the load; keep the head up.3.9.7.Do not lean over obstacles to put an item down as thisincreases the risk of injury to the back.3.9.8.If you have to lift the item above the chest, split the lift asillustrated.

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLING4.Roles and Responsibilities4.1.5.6.Administration5.1.Manual handling work activities must be assessed using the manualhandling assessment form HS10 available in Standard Forms – Health& Safety.5.2.District departments must retain completed HS10 for a minimum of 6years.Monitoring and Evaluation6.1.7.It is the responsibility of District Commanders and Heads ofDepartment to ensure manual handling work activities are riskassessed and that staff are sent on the appropriate training course.This procedure will be monitored by the force Corporate Health andSafety Advisor to ensure compliance with current health and safetylegislation.Review7.1.This procedure will be reviewed every three years, or as and whenlegislation or Force requirements change or new or amended modelrisk assessments are produced.

21337 PROCEDURE – SAFE MANUAL HANDLING8.Other Related Procedures, Policies and Information Sources8.1.Related Policies8.1.1.8.2.Related Procedures8.2.1.8.3.Origin:21300 Policy - Health and Safety21321 Procedure – Health & Safety TrainingInformation Sources8.3.1.The Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 19741.1.1.The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations19998.3.2.The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 19928.3.3.H&S Risk Assessment Intranet page8.3.4.AD203 – Equality Impact AssessmentHealth and Safety / Risk

Department to ensure manual handling work activities are risk assessed and that staff are sent on the appropriate training course. 5. Administration 5.1. Manual handling work activities must be assessed using the manual handling assessment form HS10 available in Standard Forms – Health & Safety. 5.2.