Preventing manual handling injuries in the workplace

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Preventing manual handling injuries in the
workplace
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Overview of the workshop

• Aim learning outcomes of the workshop
• Definition of manual handling
• Manual handling injury statistics
• Relationship between the Act, Regulation Codes
  of Practice
• Anatomy biomechanics

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Overview of workshop (cont)

• The Manual Handling Code of Practice
• Hazard identification
• Risk assessment and
• Risk control follow-up.
• Whos responsible?
• Case studies
• Conclusion questions

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Aim of the workshop

• To give participants the knowledge skills to
  effectively identify hazards, assess and
  control risks arising from manual handling tasks.
• This workshop forms part of the general training
  requirements of the Manual Handling Code of
  Practice

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Learning outcomes

• Participants should be able to recognise manual
  handling risks in tasks, and in consultation,
  decide the best way to minimise them.

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Learning outcomes

• Provide the definition of manual handling
• Explain the manual handling regulation in the OSH
  Regulations
• Apply the principles in the Code of Practice for
  identifying hazards assessing risks in their
  workplace and
• Discuss apply the process for controlling
  manual handling risks.

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Manual handlingdefinition

• Any activity requiring the use of force exerted
  by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or
  otherwise move, hold or restrain a person, animal
  or thing.

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Examples of manual handling
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Cost of manual handling injuries
Source Workers Compensation Statistical
Reports 1998/99 2001/02, 1999/00 2002/03
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Overlap between the Codes of Practice

• The full range of manual handling tasks is
  covered by
• Manual Handling Code of Practice
• and
• National Code of Practice for the Prevention of
  Occupational Overuse Syndrome.

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Relationship between the Act, Regulation Codes

• The following slide shows the relationship
  between
• The Occupational Safety Health Act
• The Manual Handling Regulation
• The Codes of Practice for Manual Handling
  Occupational Overuse Prevention.

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Anatomy biomechanics

• Anatomy of the spine
• Body positions postures
• Types of muscle work
• Principles of biomechanics.

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Anatomy of the spine
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Trunk (spine) positionsflexion extension
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Trunk (spine) positionsside flexion rotation
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Wrist positionsextension, neutral flexion
       
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Hand forearm positionspronation supination
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Types of muscle work

• Dynamic
• Muscle contraction movement.
• Static
• Muscle contraction no movement.

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Principles of biomechanics
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Using the spine as a crane
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Manual Handling Code of Practice

• Step 1. Hazard Identification
• (spotting the problem)
• Step 2. Risk Assessment
• (understanding the problem)
• Step 3. Risk control
• (dealing with the problem)

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Manual Handling Code of Practice

• Step 1. Hazard Identification
• (spotting the problem)
• Regulation 3.4(2)(a) states that an employer,
  the main contractor or a self-employed person
  must, as far as practicable identify each hazard
  that is likely to arise from manual handling at
  the workplace.

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Manual Handling Code of Practice

• Step 2. Risk Assessment
• (understanding the problem)
• Regulation 3.4(2)(b) states that an employer,
  the main contractor or a self-employed person
  must, as far as practicable assess the risk of
  injury or harm to a person resulting from each
  hazard, if any, identified under paragraph (a).

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Manual Handling Code of Practice

• Step 3. Risk control
• (dealing with the problem)
• Regulation 3.4(2)(c) states that an employer,
  the main contractor or a self-employed person
  must, as far as practicable consider the means by
  which the risk may be reduced.

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Hazard identification

• Definition
• The process of identifying factors in the work
  process which could result in a risk of manual
  handling injury.
• Purpose
• To collect information and look for trends on
  hazardous tasks.

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Hazard identification process

• Five stages
• Analysis of injury, incident hazard reports
• Consultation with employees
• Look at manual handling tasks
• Collect information and
• Look for trends.

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Risk assessment

• Definition
• The process of determining which hazards are
  likely to result in injury, and why this is so.
• Purpose
• To determine appropriate ways of dealing with
  hazards.

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Risk assessment process

• Three stages
• Stage 1. Prioritise tasks for assessment.

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Risk assessment process

• Stage 2.
• Select the highest priority task
• Break it down into activity components if
  required.

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Risk assessment process

• Stage 3.
• Look at all the risk factors
• Actions postures
• Loads handled
• Work environment and
• Characteristics of employees.

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Risk assessment process

• Summarise the information on the risk assessment
  form or
• Use the risk assessment checklist where
  repetitive manual handling is done or
• Use the risk assessment checklist where handling
  people.

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Risk control

• Definition
• The process of eliminating or reducing identified
  and assessed risk factors.
• Purpose
• To make the job or task safer for employees, and
  reduce the incidence of manual handling injuries.

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Risk control

• Consult with
• Employees doing the manual handling tasks
• Safety and health representatives
• Managers and supervisors.

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Risk control process

• Eliminate the manual handling task
• or
• Redesign the work, workplace or equipment to
  minimise the risk of injury
• and
• Provide appropriate manual handling training.

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Risk control strategies

• Modify workplace layout and equipment
• Modify the load
• Control the work environment
• Redesign work patterns.

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Modify workplace layout equipment

• Modifying the workplace layout can affect the
  workers postures.

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Modify workplace layout
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Modify workplace layout
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Mechanical handling equipment
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Mechanical handling equipment
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Modify the loadrepackage to reduce weight
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Modify the load improve gripprovide hand holds
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Control the work environment

• Adequate space for manual handling
• Adequate hazard reporting system and
• Preventative maintenance program.

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Redesign work patterns

• Change duration frequency of a manual handling
  activity
• Rotate through different tasks with different
  actions postures
• Work rates
• Provision of breaks and
• Cover peak demand and consider work hours.

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Training

• General training
• During induction and
• As part of risk control program.
• Task specific training
• During induction
• Refresher training and
• When tasks/equipment are changed.

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Follow up

• Aim
• To ensure that
• Changes have reduced the risk of injury
• No new hazards have been introduced.

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Whos responsible?

• Who should be involved?
• What consultation is needed?
• Should records be kept?

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Summary
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Conclusion

• The aim is to reduce the risk of manual handling
  injuries in the workplace, using the 3 step
  process detailed in the Manual Handling Code of
  Practice.

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References further information

• Code of Practice Manual Handling.
• www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
• Lifting the load article by Bob Bridger.
• Health Safety at Work, June 2001
•  
• Workers Compensation Statistical Reports
• WorkCover Western Australia
• www.workcover.wa.gov.au/ 

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References further information

• Current issues in manual handling.
• What is a safe weight?
• Industrial back belts
• Manual handling during pregnancy.
• Manual handling solutions.
• WorkSafe Western Australias website.
• www.safetyline.wa.gov.au

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References further information

• National Code of Practice for the Prevention of
  Occupational Overuse Syndrome NOHSC2013(1994).
• National Occupational Health and Safety
  Commission.
• www.nohsc.gov.au

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References further information

• Risk Management.
• Safetyline Institute Lectures.
• www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/institute/level1/course6
  /lecture93
•  Manual Handling Tasks Involving People -
  Advisory Standard 2001.
• Department of Industrial Relations Workplace
  Health Safety, Queensland.
• www.whs.qld.gov.au
•  Designing Workplaces for Safer Handling of
  Patients.
• WorkSafe Victoria
• www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
•  Guidance on the Safe Moving of Clients.
• ACT WorkCover.
• www.workcover.act.gov.au