Door Industry Journal - Summer 2013

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 68 THE door industry journal summer 2013 employment & legal MANUAL HANDLING WITHIN THE WORKPLACE Manual handling is one of the most common causes of injuries at work with over a third being caused by lifting or pushing activities, or by physically moving loads. It is estimated that over a million people suffer from work- related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and these can include upper and lower limb pain/disorders, joint and repetitive strain injuries. Avoiding all manual-handling injuries makes sound business sense as failure to do so can cost the organisation money as injured individuals may pursue compensation claims, which could result in higher insurance premiums. It may also result in additional salaries for staff that are required to work overtime in order to cover for the injured employees as well as possible recruitment fees, if the injured employee does not return to work. All businesses have a duty to protect employees from injuries as a result of manual handling activities and this is outlined within the Manual Handling Operations (MHO) Regulations and applies to all manual handling activities operations. Manual handling is defined as ‘any transporting or supporting of a load and includes the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof by hand or by bodily force’. Manual handling injuries can occur wherever people are at work and they are not always caused as a result of heavy manual labour although this can have a huge impact. Poor posture and excessive repetition of movement can bring on the onset of injuries and can also exacerbate previous existing injuries. It is therefore important to ensure that suitable procedures are in place to prevent any future injuries. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations require employer’s to:- • Avoid the need for hazardous manual activities as far as reasonably practicable. • Assess the risk of injury when the task cannot be avoided. • Reduce the risk of injury as far as reasonably practicable. These regulations do not just place duties on employers they also put an obligation on each and every employee, as they are required to:- • Follow all systems of work that are in place in order to protect their safety. • Use all equipment that is provided by the employer in order to reduce the risk of injury. • Assess the risk of injury when the task cannot be avoided. • Ensure that activities that they are undertaking do not place colleagues at risk. It is not possible to avoid manual handling activities within the workplace however, it is important to ensure that detailed risk assessments are completed and the necessary control measures put into place. Most assessments should be able to be done in house as you and your employees know your business best and will know the best way to solve any problems. Consultation with employees is a legal requirement and is an important step towards identifying hazards in the workplace. The views of staff are of particular value particularly when the issues relate to repetitive strain and where the effects of a somewhat easy task are compounded due to the number of times it is carried out. Your manual handling assessment should take into account and address the following points:- • the task • the load • the working environment • individual capability and • other factors, for example use of protective clothing. Each of these points could influence the others and none of them should be considered on their own. Therefore your assessment should be carried out in a structured way, it is often helpful to begin by breaking the operations down into separate, more manageable items. Unfortunately, no matter how good the risk assessment there is no manual handling activity that is completely safe; therefore the Health and Safety Executive do not provide specific weight limits for what can be lifted as every one is different. Within the Manual Handling 1992: Manual Handling Operations Regulations - Guidance on Regulations: the HSE have provided a simple filter which suggests weight limits. These limits vary between men and women and suggest that men can lift 25 kg when moving something close to the trunk with arms at your side where as a woman can lift 16kg in the same position. These limits will change as the weight is moved away from the body or if your arms are outstretched. The risk of injury from a manual handling task is increased when workers do not have the relevant information or training necessary to enable them to work safely, therefore, it is important to ensure that all staff are suitably trained in the correct lifting techniques. Citation Limited provides a simple manual handling module within its on line service for all clients to use. As with all training that is undertaken employers should ensure they keep sufficient records to show who has been trained, when the training was carried out and what the content of the course was. The compilation of assessments is not a one off task and should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they are still current and no issues have arisen since it was documented and the tasks are still being completed in the same manner. You should also establish a planned training programme to ensure all staff receive basic training when required which covers new starters either before or as close to starting a new job as possible. For further advice and guidance about manual handling or any other health and safety issue please do not hesitate to contact Citation Limited. Citation Limited have been helping businesses achieve health and safety compliance for eighteen years and offer a fixed price health and safety and employment law consultancy service in order to help our clients comply with legislation. If you require any assistance or advice with any health and safety or employment law related matter or you require more information about the services offered by Citation Limited, please call 0845 844 1111 Gary Sullivan DipSHEM, CMIOSH, MRSPH Chartered Health and Safety Practitioner Regional Health and Safety Manager. Citation Limited.