Preventing Manual Handling Injuries On Farms
GOOD PRACTICEGUIDELINESPreventing manual handlinginjuries on farmsJULY 2014
The purpose of these guidelines isto help reduce the risk of injuriesfrom manual handling on farms byproviding practical guidance onhow to manage hazards.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis guideline was prepared by WorkSafe New Zealand (WorkSafe NZ) with help from: Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Ministry for Primary Industries Beef and Lamb New Zealand New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) DairyNZ New Zealand Dairy Workers Union Dairy Women’s Network New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) FarmSafe Primary Industry Training Organisation Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc Rural Contractors New Zealand Horticulture New Zealand Rural Women New Zealand Inc Landcorp Farming Limited University of Auckland Lincoln University University of Otago.It has been adapted from an existing ACC publication: Preventing Manual Handling Injuries for the Farmer.The guideline was also informed by information from overseas regulators. The following organisations areacknowledged for providing information to develop this guide: WorkSafe, Department of Commerce,Western Australia Safe Work Australia The Health & Safety Executive (UK).This guide contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive (UK) and licensedunder the Open Government Licence v1.0.Some information has been reproduced courtesy of WorkSafe, part of the Department of Commerce inWestern Australia (www.worksafe.wa.gov.au).
PREVENTING MANUALHANDLING INJURIES ONFARMS: KEY POINTSWorkers must be trained in correcttechniques for manual handling jobsNo one should lift something thatis too heavy for themLift with the legs, not the back(Re)design the workplace tominimise manual handling hazardsUse mechanical/lifting aidswhere possiblePlan regular breaks and rotate jobs
TABLE OF 1.3Development5ABOUT MANUAL HANDLING62.1Hazardous manual handling tasks72.2Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)7HOW TO IDENTIFY AND CONTROL MANUALHANDLING HAZARDS93.1Review records103.2Talk with Employees103.3Watch people doing manual handling tasks103.4Assessing manual handling hazards113.5Limiting manual handling injuries113.6Loads12TYPES OF HAZARDOUS MANUAL HANDLING TASKS134.1Lifting and moving objects on the farm144.2Sustained postures144.3Repetitive actions154.4Overreaching or handling with the arms outstretched154.5Whole body vibration164.6Fatigue164.7Poor workplace design16
050607SPECIFIC HAZARDS AND CONTROLS185.1Milking195.2Herd testing205.3Lifting sheep215.4Lifting calves225.5Shearing and crutching225.6Shearing handpieces23TRAINING REQUIREMENTS246.1General requirements256.2Training for health and safetly ography30FIGURES1Appropriate height for milking192Correct sheep-lifting technique213Correct calf-lifting technique223
01/INTRODUCTIONIN THIS SECTION:41.1Purpose1.2Scope1.3Development
SECTION 1.0 // INTRODUCTIONThis guideline is about preventing injuries from manualhandling on farms.1.1PURPOSE1.2SCOPEFarm workers do a wide variety of manualThis guide is for farmers, employers,handling tasks. The tasks involve usingemployees, principals, contractors, healthforce, repetitive movements, stooping, staticand safety advisers, health and safetyand awkward postures, continual bendingrepresentatives, consultants and designers.and twisting at the waist, and handlingThe guide encourages employers andheavy objects.employees to work together to preventThese can cause several problems, including: serious back injuries musculoskeletal disorders, includingoccupational overuse syndromes acute injuries, like muscle or tendon sprainsand strains injuries from slips, trips and falls.Manual handling is also one of many interrelated risks for acute low back pain.This guideline identifies the dangers and risksfrom manual handling in farming and offersrecommendations to help avoid accidentsand injuries. WorkSafe NZ accepts theseharm when carrying out manual handlingtasks on the farm.Use this guide: to review how existing manual handlingtasks are carried out on the farm when designing and carrying out new jobsinvolving manual handling when designing or changing equipmentor work processes when manufacturing, importing orsupplying equipment.1.3DEVELOPMENTrecommendations as current industry bestIndustry experts helped WorkSafe NZ developpractice. They will help you comply with thethis guide. WorkSafe NZ also reviewedHealth and Safety in Employment Act 1992accident statistics, published academic(the HSE Act).literature and how overseas health and safetyregulators manage the same issues.WorkSafe NZ has made every effort to ensurethe guide’s recommended hazard controlsreflect current best practice.5
02/ABOUT MANUALHANDLINGIN THIS SECTION:62.1Hazardous manualhandling tasks2.2Musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs)
SECTION 2.0 // ABOUT MANUAL HANDLINGManual handling involves lifting, lowering, pushing,pulling, carrying, throwing, moving, restraining, holdingor handling any animate, or inanimate object.2.1HAZARDOUS MANUAL HANDLING TASKSA hazardous manual handling task involves one or more of the following:FORCEEXAMPLESRepetitive forceLifting and stacking hay balesSustained forceCarrying feed or water bucketsHigh forceLifting concrete postsSudden forceHandling frightened or resistant animalsMOVEMENTEXAMPLERepetitive movementAttaching milking cupsPOSTUREEXAMPLESSustained postureBending over to attach milking cups in a shallow pitAwkward postureBending and twisting during shearing or crutchingVIBRATIONEXAMPLESWhole-body vibrationDriving a tractor or quad bike over rough groundHand-arm vibrationUsing a chainsaw or shearing handpieceThese aspects of manual handling put stress on the body and can cause injuries.MUSCULOSKELETALDISORDERS (MSDS)2.2Manual handling can harm yourmusculoskeletal system (your bones and back injuries, including muscle, tendon,ligament, spinal disc, nerves, joint andbone damage joint and bone injuries or weakening,muscles) slowly, so the injury gets worseincluding shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee,over time (a chronic injury). Manual handlingankle, handaccidents can also cause immediately-feltand foot injuries(acute) injuries, like cuts or broken bones.Injuries and pain in the lower back are themost common work-related MSDs.MSDs include: muscle, ligament and tendon sprainsand strains nerve injuries or compression, like carpaltunnel syndrome muscular and blood vessel conditions fromhand-arm vibration (eg white knuckle) soft tissue hernias ongoing, long-term (chronic) pain.7
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES // PREVENTING MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES ON FARMSMSDs are caused in two ways:1. Repeated or continual use of the same body part gradually wears down joints, ligaments,muscles and discs in the spinal cord. These movements include static body positions, likecarrying buckets of water.2. Sudden damage is caused by strenuous work or unexpected movements (such as handlinganimals that move or change position suddenly).A combination of these also can also cause harm, for example, you could be more likely to getinjured from manual handling if your body is weakened by damage that’s built up over time.8
SECTION 2.0 // ABOUT MANUAL HANDLING03/HOW TO IDENTIFYAND CONTROLMANUAL HANDLINGHAZARDSIN THIS SECTION:3.1Review records3.2Talk with employees3.3Watch people doingmanual handling tasks3.4Assessing manualhandling hazards3.5Limiting manualhandling injuries3.6Loads9
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES // PREVENTING MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES ON FARMSThere are several ways to identify manual handlinghazards on the farm.3.1REVIEW RECORDSFarm records are a good source of informationfor identifying hazardous manual handlingWatch all manual handling tasks to identify thetasks. Look at hazard registers, accidenthazards. Not all manual handling is harmful, soinvestigation forms and early reports ofit is important to focus on the work that coulddiscomfort. Use these records to find thecause harm.locations and tasks where people wereharmed from manual handling tasks.Think about: where in the workplace the problemoccurredInvolve employees, contractors and principalsto find out what they do. Watch them indetail and ask them to help you carry out theevaluation.You can do this by: the person’s job watching the worker do the task what they were doing at the time using checklists to make sure proper the body part harmed (for example, thelower back or ankle) what the problem was (for example, astrain, open wound or broken bone)procedures are followed taking part in the task (where it is safeto do so).If you have found one or more manual what went wrong.handling hazards in a task, or if written recordsWhen reviewing these records, think about:or talks with employees show there is the how many accidents or injuries are causedmanual handling hazards.by particular manual handling tasks how often do injuries happen the total workload of each worker – thatis, the time spent doing all the differentmanual handling tasks.3.2TALK WITH EMPLOYEESEmployees can help you understandpotentially unsafe tasks. Employees knowabout the manual handling tasks they do, andhow and when they do them. Employees canidentify the exact tasks or actions they findtiring or hard to do. They can also help identifysuitable controls to reduce the harm.10WATCH PEOPLE DOINGMANUAL HANDLING TASKS3.3potential for harm, you should assess the
SECTION 3.0 // HOW TO IDENTIFY AND CONTROL MANUAL HANDLING HAZARDSASSESSING MANUALHANDLING HAZARDSLIMITING MANUALHANDLING INJURIESIf you find unsafe manual handling tasks,Think about how people manage their work.you (and your employees, contractors andMake sure your employees know which manualprincipals) should assess the risk level eachhandling tasks are hazardous and how totask poses. As employers, farmers mustreduce the risk of injury.3.4control the hazard and tell workers how tokeep themselves safe.To assess manual handling hazards, you must:1. Assess the contributing factors:–– load–– environment–– people–– task3.5 Remind employees that tasks should besmooth and controlled, never rushed. Teach them how to handle animals – avoidusing brute force, which increases the riskof injury. Encourage them to share loads, to uselifting equipment, to handle only asnecessary and not beyond their ability. Provide opportunities for employees to–– management.change their posture regularly, and to moveWhen you’ve identified the contributingand stretch between tasks.factors, you can control the task hazards. Encourage employees to keep fit.See the ‘Loads’ section of this Guideline for Encourage early reporting of signs of backmore information on how different types ofloads can harm people.2. Decide how significant the contributingfactors areFor each contributing factor you find,decide how risky it is, based on theinformation you’ve gathered.Record your risk estimate against eachpain. Most back problems are short termand not serious. The best way to deal withacute back pain is to stay active and keepmoving – building up strength graduallyand avoiding heavy duties. If back pain is ongoing or severe, getmedical advice to make sure there areno serious problems, like fractures orbone infections.contributing factor.3. Hazard assessmentOnce you’ve assessed the contributingfactors and decided how significant theyare, you have the information you need tomanage the hazard.11
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES // PREVENTING MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES ON FARMS3.6LOADS3.6.1 HEAVY LOADSHandling heavy objects needs a lot ofstrength. This means tissues and joints inthe back, knees, arms and shoulders areoverloaded.A lighter weight held away from the body3.6.6 LOADS THAT BLOCK THEPERSON’S VIEWLoads can cause twisted postures if thehandler tries to get a better view. Injuriescan also happen from slipping or falling.3.6.7 LOADS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO GRIP,GREASY OR SLIPPERYneeds the same effort to handle as a heavyIf gripping the load is difficult, the handlerone held close.might have to use their hand and armJerking or moving a load quickly uses moreforce than just carrying the load.muscles in a constant high force. Sudden,uncontrolled movements happen if they losetheir grip. Gloves might make it easier to getWorkSafe NZ cannot set out specific weighta better grip, but they might increase thelimits (because manual handling is a complexforce needed to grip the load securely.process involving a lot of different risks), butthe more weight or force needed, the more3.6.8 LOADS WITH HANDLESlikely it is someone will be hurt.Handles reduce the force needed to move3.6.2 BULKY OR AWKWARD LOADSA bulky load: needs an awkward and twisted posture makes it hard to keep the weight closeto the body increases the load on spine and joints.3.6.3 UNPREDICTABLE OR DIFFICULTTO MOVE LOADSUnpredictable loads, like lodged or stuckitems, need more force to move. This is alsothe case with awkward postures or sudden,uncontrolled movements.3.6.4 LOADS WITH UNEVEN WEIGHTDISTRIBUTIONThese put demands on the person handlingthe load and might overload some musclegroups. The shape might stop the heavyend being held close to the body.3.6.5 UNSTABLE OR UNBALANCED LOADSLoads like fluids and sacks of shiftingcontents need extra muscle effort to controlthem. The person might have to use sudden,uncontrolled movements if the contentssuddenly tip.12a load and increase precision and ease ofmovement. The location, shape, positionand size of handles are all important.3.6.9 VERY HOT OR COLD LOADS ORTHOSE THAT CONTAIN HAZARDOUSSUBSTANCESThe load’s temperature or its chemicalmake-up influence how the load is handled.The handler might need protective clothingor equipment. The load might have to beheld away from the body.3.6.10 ANIMAL HANDLINGAnimals pose unique handling problems, likehow to grip the animal and how to counterunpredictable movements. How much helpthe animal can give, whether it cooperates,and how much pain it might experiencealso affect the way each animal should behandled.3.6.11 LOADS WITH SHARP EDGESLoads with sharp edges are unsafe and addto manual handling hazards.
SECTION 4.0 // TYPES OF HAZARDOUS MANUAL HANDLING TASKS04/TYPES OFHAZARDOUSMANUALHANDLING TASKSIN THIS SECTION:4.1Lifting and moving objectson the farm4.2Sustained postures4.3Repetitive actions4.4Overreaching or handlingwith the arms outstretched4.5Whole body vibration4.6Fatigue4.7Poor workplace design13
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES // PREVENTING MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES ON FARMSThe different types of manual handling hazards facedon farms are outlined in this section, along withmanagement strategies.4.1 LIFTING AND MOVINGOBJECTS ON THE FARM Buy smaller or ready-to-use amounts ofLifting and moving objects can involve high, Use powered equipment or mechanicalsustained, repetitive or sudden forces. Someaids (eg front-end loaders) instead of liftingexamples are:by hand. lifting and stacking hay bales carrying feed or water buckets lifting concrete posts handling frightened or resistant animals.These contribute to lower-back pain, injury Use wheeled trolleys, dollys, wheelbarrows,ramps and other mechanical aids. Balance the load by carrying quantities ineach hand; for instance, two buckets, onein each hand. Get help with lifting bags and heavyand other MSDs.objects if you’re carrying them over steepUneven, steep or slippery terrain makes theor slippery ground.risks of lifting and moving objects worse.Remember that most back injuries don’thappen suddenly. Back injuries often happenover many years of wear and tear, making thediscs between the vertebrae weak and morelikely to rupture.MANAGING THE HAZARD:Do not try to lift objects that are too bigor heavy for you. Find ways to avoid liftingheavy items. If you must lift them, use yourlegs, not your back and keep the load infront of and close to your body. Duringlong shifts, change tasks around to giveyour muscles a break. Keep a safe lifting posture by keeping yourback straight, the load close to your bodyand lifting by bending your legs. Make object surfaces easier to grip byattaching handles or using gloves. Break down awkward or heavy loads intosmaller packages, drums, bags or packets. Make sure liquid loads are in containers thatmake handling easier, such as lightweightplastic with easy-to-use handles. Keep your equipment in good conditionand replace worn parts – if you reducefriction, you reduce the force needed tomove things.4.2SUSTAINED POSTURESBuy products in bulk or on a pallet that canAny posture you hold for a time is a sustainedbe loaded using a forklift, front-end loaderposture, like bending for too long or using onlyor augers.one group of muscles. Examples are drenching Make sure the bulk load is secure withstraps, chains or other fixtures. Install automatic feeders.14products you don’t use often.cattle, hoof paring or driving a tractor. Holdingone position can tire out the muscles you areusing. It can lead to muscle strains, aches,pains or other MSDs.
SECTION 4.0 // TYPES OF HAZARDOUS MANUAL HANDLING TASKSSustained postures are made more–– a footrest (large enough for the wholehazardous by:foot) so you can stand with eitherfoot raised using high force vibration–– where possible, suitable floor covering tocushion concrete and other hard floors. long duration high mental demand combined with unsafemanual tasks, such as inspection work.MANAGING THE HAZARD:A standing work position is best when: handling large, heavy or bulky loads using forceful movements reachingPlan regular rest breaks so you don’t hold moving in and out of the work area oftenawkward positions for too long. lacking knee room or space.Regular rest breaks give workers the chance toavoid or recover from tired muscles caused byunsafe manual handling tasks.Rotate jobs often.4.3REPETITIVE ACTIONSRepetitive actions – like attaching anddetaching milking cups, drenching or usingpruning tools – can tire out the affectedmuscles. Over time, aches and pains or otherMSDs appear.Rotate staff between different tasks toincrease variety, this reduces the risk of MSDs.The tasks need to be different enough to makesure different muscle groups are used, givingthe body a chance to recover.MANAGING THE HAZARD:Avoid double handling, share heavyworkloads and use mechanical aidswhere possible.Alter the working position.Avoid excessive handling or double handlingWorkers should not stay in seated, standingby planning work and storing objects inor other fixed postures for a long time.suitable areas.For workers doing seated or standing tasks,get them to change their postures andmovements. Examples are: For seated tasks (unless the backrestinterferes with the actions) use seats with: Share heavy workloads betweenworkmates, rotate tasks, or spread physicalhandling tasks over a work week. Use turntables, hoists, trolleys and slidesto move objects, instead of relying onbody strength.–– an adjustable seat height–– adjustable backrest angle–– a backrest that fits the spine–– a swivel action so workers don’t haveto twist to reach. For standing tasks use:–– a chair, stool or support so theworker can alternate between sittingand standing4.4 OVERREACHING ORHANDLING WITH THE ARMSOUTSTRETCHEDSome farming tasks involve overreachingor handling with the arms outstretched.Examples include working in the milking pitwith the milking clusters or drenching andde-horning cattle.15
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES // PREVENTING MANUAL HANDLING INJURIES ON FARMSMANAGING THE HAZARD:Tell farm staff about hand-arm vibration. Usedifferent work methods if they can eliminateUse mechanical aids where possible.the need for vibrating equipment. If this isnot possible, buy tools and equipment thatMechanical equipment reduces or eliminatesthe need for workers to lift, carry or supportitems, animals or
Manual handling involves lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, throwing, moving, restraining, holding or handling any animate, or inanimate object. 2.1 HAZARDOUS MANUAL HANDLING TASKS A hazardous manual handling task involves one or more of the following: FORCE
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management and implementation of safe manual handling activities. 2. Introduction Incorrect manual handling is one of the most common causes of injury at work. It causes work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) which account for over a third of all workplace injuries. Manual handling inj
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