Manual Handling Training

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Manual Handling Training
SAFELAB COURSE
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Introduction

• Legislation
• Anatomy
• Ergonomics
• Principles of lifting

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Objectives

• At the end of this session you will be able to
• Basic understanding of your back
• Understand principles of safe manual handling
• Know when to stop!

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Did You Know ?
80 of people in the western
world are affected with back pain
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Manual Handling - Definition
Any transporting or supporting of a load by one
or more employees and which may include

• LIFTING
• PUTTING DOWN
• PUSHING
• PULLING
• CARRYING OR MOVING A LOAD
• which by reason of its characteristics or
  unfavorable
• ergonomic conditions involves risk, particularly
  of back injury to employees

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1. LEGISLATION
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act
1989 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General
Application 1993) Regs.
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2. AnatomyWhy Is It important?

• The Musculo-skeletal System of the body is
  designed for movement
• In order to lift and handle an object safely it
  is essential to have a knowledge of this system
  and its flexibility

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Spinal Column
7 Cervical
Neck
12 Thoracic
Ribcage
5 Lumbar
Lower back
5 Sacrum (fused)
4 coccyx (fused)
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Lumbar Spine

• 5 vertebrae
• Facet joints
• Discs

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Facet Joints

• Only in Lumbar Spine
• Gliding movement

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Spinal cord

• Down through the centre of the spine we have our
  spinal cord
• This brings messages to the brain from the rest
  of the body and from the brain to the rest of the
  body
• Nerves from the spinal cord control the movement
  of the trunk, arms and legs

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Muscles

• The spine is strengthened and made moveable by
  muscles.
• This makes your back flexible as opposed to a
  fixed bamboo like situation
• Posture muscles are not designed for lifting

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Spinal Ligaments

• Ligaments soft tissue in joint capsule. Limit
  mobility.
• Long Ligaments
• Limit movement of spine

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Types of Back Pain

• There are over 100 accepted causes of low back
  pain (small of the back)
• Wear and tear being the most common
• Three types of mechanical back injury which may
  be caused by poor manual handling practice
• DISC INJURY
• SOFT TISSUE INJURY
• BONY INJURY

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Disc Degeneration - Gradual

• Nutrition cannot get to disc
• Disc dries out
• Lack of nutrition leads to disc degeneration

• EXPERIENCE A HIGH LEVEL OF PAIN DUE TO PRESSURE
  ON NERVE ENDINGS

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Disc Pressure

• When pressure is applied on the spinal nerves
  pain can be felt in several areas
• Sciatica is caused by disc pressure on the
  sciatic nerve

Pain Distribution
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Wear and Tear

• Wear and tear effects can be noticed from as
  early as 25 years of age earlier if there has
  been an injury
• Heavy physical work over a long period causes
  wear tear

• Remember we should only lift what we are
  physicaly able to lift at the time of the lift
• Muscles are strained by over loading or a sudden
  stretch or unexpected movement
• The more we overdo- the less we can do

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Ergonomic Assessment

• Information required to carry out an ergonomic
  assessment
• THE TASKS
• THE LOADS
• THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
• INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITY

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5. Principles of Lifting

• Assess Task, Area, Load
• Broad Stable Base (Feet Flat on Floor)
• Bend the Knees
• Back Straight (Not necessarily vertical)
• Firm Grip (Palmer)
• Arms in Line with Trunk
• Weight Close to Centre of Gravity
• Point feet in the Direction of Movement

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Principles of Lifting

• Divide the load
• Balance the body
• Example - Two smaller loads - as opposed to one
  large one

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Pushing and Pulling

• Keep your back straight
• Bend at the hips and knees
• Let your legs do the work
• Pushing is better than pulling
• Pushing is easier as you can see over the load
• If you cant see over the load GET HELP

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6. Practical application

• To and from the floor
• To and from a bench
• To and from a height
• Pushing
• Pulling
• 2 persons lift

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Summary

• There is legislation to help and protect you
• Being aware of your body and how it works will
  prepare you
• Being flexible and fit will benefit you
• Handling loads correctly is the only way

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Health Safety Office

• Thank you for your time
• Remember.
• nobody is immune to natural wear and tear
• use it or lose it!