Safe manual handling

Advice and guidance on safe manual handling is given in the following HSE publications  

HSG 115 Manual handling. Solutions you can handle HSG 119 Manual handling in drinks industry 

HSG 121 A pain in your workplace Ergonomic problems and solutions HSG 149 Backs for the future. Safe handling in construction HSG 171 Well handled. Offshore manual handling solutions HSG 225 Handling home care 

L23 Manual handling. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. Guidance on the Regulations 

Of the enormous toll of injuries attributed to manual handhng by far the greater number (two-thirds) are strains and sprains. By knorving the mechanics of the body as they apply to lifting and handling and by following some simple rules the toll of these accidents can be much reduced. 

Understanding the mechanics of the parts of the body that are involved when a load is lifted or carried is basic to developing techniques and practices to ensure the muscles are not overloaded. 

The bending moment about the spine from the load = W X y 

This is resisted by the moment of the pull of the muscle times its distance from the vertebrate 

If r is small compared to y then the load on the spinal muscle is many times greater than the load being carried. For example if a load of 10 kg is carried at elbow s length, i.e 400 mm from the spine, and the distance of the spinal 

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Where a job involves considerable manual handling, employers must now train employees in the correct lifting procedures and provide the appropriate equipment necessary to promote the safe manual handling of loads. 

Use bullet points to list the main stages involved in lifting a heavy box from the floor, carrying it across a room and placing it on a worktop, using a safe manual handling technique. 

Describe a safe manual handling technique for moving a heavy electric motor out of the stores, across a yard and into the back of a van for delivery to site. 

We began to look at safe electrical isolation procedures in Chapter 1 and then discussed this topic further in Chapter 8, together with safe manual handling techniques and safe procedures for working above ground. 

HSG 149 Backs for the future. Safe manual handling in construction... 

Figure 2.7 From HSG149 Backs for the Future Safe Manual Handling In Construction (HSE Books 2000) ISBN 0717611221. Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and Queen s Printer for Scotland.

Mechanical devices must be used for lifting and moving objects that are too heavy or bulky for safe manual handling by employees. 

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