Health & Safety Manual Manual Handling Guidance Tool .

Health & Safety Manual Manual handlingGuidance Tool:Manual HandlingPlease tick the relevant boxes to ensureyou follow the correct procedures. Manual Handling RiskAssessments completed forHazardous Activities Employee made awareof the risks Employees given informationand/or training on o.uk

Health & Safety Manual Manual handlingGuidance note elevenManual handlingIntroductionInjury caused by manual handling is a common occupationalhazard. More than a third of injuries lasting more than threedays reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) eachyear arise from manual handling. Most injuries are to theback, though hands, arms and feet are also vulnerable.It is this practices Policy under the Manual Handling OperationsRegulations, manual handling is interpreted as the transportingor supporting of any load. Where it is not possible to eliminatehazardous manual handling, an assessment must be undertakento determine the level of risk. Suitable controls must then beintroduced to reduce the risk of injury. This will be achieved by theuse of automation, mechanical aids or redesigning the system ofwork.The working environment – when assessing the workingenvironment, think about whether or not there are: constraints on posture; poor floors; variations in levels; hot/cold/humid conditions; strong air movements; poor lighting conditions.The assessment(s) should be reviewed when there is asignificant change in the: activity or process; working environment; numbers or abilities of personnel; nature of the load to be handled.Assessing the riskThe assessment will take into consideration the task, the load,the working environment, the individuals capability and any otherfactors which may affect safe lifting and carrying (e.g. the use ofPPE).Task – when assessing the task, consideration will be givenas to whether it involves any of the following: holding loads away from the body trunk; twisting; stooping; reaching upwards; large vertical movements; long carrying distances or up and down stairs; strenuous pushing or pulling; unpredictable movement of loads; repetitive handling; insufficient rest or recovery time;Individual capability – when looking at an individual’scapability ask “does the job”: require unusual capability; hazard those with a health problem; hazard those who are pregnant; call for special information/training.The load – when assessing the load, you need to decidewhether or not it is: heavy; bulky/unwieldy; difficult to grasp; unstable/unpredictable; intrinsically harmful (e.g. sharp, hot, etc.).www.rowlandspharmacy.co.uk

Health & Safety Manual Manual handlingInformation, instruction and trainingThere is no maximum weight that a person can be required tohandle (although the guidelines below may be of assistance). Tasksshould be assessed on the basis of an ergonomic approach tomanual handling operations at the workplace (i.e. fitting the task tosuit personal abilities and limitations).Information and where required training in safe methods of liftingand carrying for those employees who undertake manual handlingactivities is given. Regular refresher information and or training willalso be given.Guidelines on safe lifting techniques are given below. It is importantthat all employees are familiar with this advice.Just one wrong move can cause an injury ! Be AWARE of the risks Think ahead BEFORE you start Take care EVERY time A risk assessment should be carried out for pregnant women,new mothers, young people or people with some existing healthproblems before they carry out any manual handling tasksPrevention is better than cureWith proper training, appropriate equipment and a Safe WorkingProcedure, manual handling of goods should not result in injury.Remember some golden rules: T HINK before you start the job - do you need to move it byhand? Only do what you are physically CAPABLE of doing safelyfollowing these guidelines Wear the proper CLOTHING especially footwear and gloves Always report any HAZARDS you encounter Exchange INFORMATION with others you work with and withyour Practice ManagerLifting Don’t rush into the job without thinking about thesize, weight (refer to the guide over-page) andyour personal capabilities If the load is heavy could it be split to make itlighter? Consider the shape of the load - and if there areany sharp edges Discard wrapping materials, etc. which couldbecome unattached Ensure your route is free from obstructions Always get help if you are in any doubt aboutyour ability to handle the object safely Stand close, feet apart, leading leg forward,bend your knees and keep your back straight DO NOT TWIST Hold the load in a firm grip and use your legs totake the strain as you lift Do not jerk - keep the whole action as smoothas you can Keep the load close to your body, with theheaviest side towards you Take regular breaks when lifting over a longperiod of time, short breaks mean betterperformance in the long run, and you’ll feel lesstired If the load is not on the floor, bend at the hips tolift and remember to keep your back and head ina straight linewww.rowlandspharmacy.co.uk

Health & Safety Manual Manual handlingguideline weightsThe diagram below shows a guideline weight for lifting and loweringin each zone. To make a quick and easy assessment you must :Carrying D o not carry a load for long distances - use a mechanical aidwhere possible Avoid stairs where ever possible or store only light loads inupstairs storerooms Ensure your route is free from obstructions Learn to carry heavy loads correctly - close to the body with yourarms tucked in Keep your head up Do not twist or jerk Never change your grip whilst carrying, always rest the load on afirm surface if you need to adjust your grip Make sure you can see where you are going d ecide which box or boxes your hands pass through whenmoving the load; assess the maximum weight of the load - if it less than the figuregiven in the box, the operation is within the guidelines but makesure THIS IS WITHIN YOUR OWN CAPABILITY; if your hands enter more than one box during the operation, usethe smallest weight. Use an in-between weight if your hands areclose to a boundary between boxes; the guideline weights assume that the load is grasped with bothhands and the load has no unusual characteristics; reduce the guideline weights if you must twist during theoperation - reduce by 10% if you twist beyond 45 and by 20%if you twist beyond 90 Think ahead BEFORE you start EVERY timeWOMENMEN10kg3kg7kg7kg13kg10kg16kgShoulder Height5kgShoulder Height20kg10kgElbow HeightElbow Height25kg15kgKnuckle HeightKnuckle Height7kgMid Lower Leg Height13kg20kg10kgMid Lower Leg Height3kg7kg10kg5kgwww.rowlandspharmacy.co.uk

Health & Safety Manual Manual handlingInsert your practice manualhandling assessments herewww.rowlandspharmacy.co.uk

manual handling operations at the workplace (i.e. fitting the task to . With proper training, appropriate equipment and a Safe Working Procedure, manual handling of goods should not result in injury. . The diagram below shows a guideline weight for lifting and lowering in