Aguidetomanualhandlingriskassessment and Risk Reduction 3
MANAGINGMANUALHANDLING
AGuideforManagersandHeadsofDepartments
HEALTH & SAFETY UNITSPRING2015
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...... 2
REGULATION...... 2
WHATISMANUAL HANDLING?...... 2
RESPONSIBILITIES...... 2
STRATEGY...... 2
TRAININGANDSUPPORT MATERIALS...... 3
AGUIDETOMANUALHANDLINGRISKASSESSMENT AND RISK REDUCTION...... 3
1)What is manual handling...... 3
2)Why risk assessment ...... 3
3)Skillsand knowledgerequiredforassessment ...... 3
4)Howdetailed should an assessment be ? ...... 4
5)Making an assessment...... 4
6)Practicalrisk reduction:...... 4
APPENDIX1 ...... 6
NUMERICAL GUIDELINESFOR ASSESSMENT...... 6
INTRODUCTION
Manual handling operations currently account for approximately 24 % percent of all reported industrial accidents. Common types of injuries such as hernias and prolapsed discs can cause considerable pain, permanent disability and in some cases loss of experienced and valuable staff. Although such accidents and injuries will never be completely eliminated manual-handling tasks can be managed in order to reduce the risks arising from accidents
REGULATIONS
TheManagementofHealthandSafetyatWorkRegulations 1999requireanassessmentofallriskstoemployees,ifthisgeneralassessmentindicatesthepossibilityofarisk fromthemanualhandlingofloadsthentherequirementsoftheManualHandling Operations Regulations 1992should be followed.
WHATISMANUALHANDLING?
Theregulationsapplytothemanualhandlingofloadsbyhumaneffortasopposedto mechanicalhandlingbycrane,lifttrucketc.Introducingmechanicalassistancemay reducebutnoteliminatemanualhandlingsincehumaneffortisstillrequiredtomove, steady or position the load.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Theresponsibilityforreducingtheriskofinjuryfrommanualhandlingoperations restswiththeUniversityandismetby'Key'SeniorStaffandtheirrespectiveHeads of Departments.
The strategy which departments should adopt is:
a)Identify manual handling operations, which involve a risk of injury.
b)Carryoutariskassessmentoftheactivity.Thisshoulddetailthetaskandthe riskreductionmethodstobeemployed,inorderofpreference:eliminatethetask, automateormechanisetheactivity,modifytheactivityandwhereappropriate provide training and information to handlers.
c)Periodicallyreviewmanualhandlingoperationstoensurethatdevelopmentsand changes in the working environment can be accommodated.
STRATEGY
Departmentswhichidentifythattheyundertakeoperationswhichinvolveriskofinjury shouldappointanassessororincorporatemanualhandlingassessmentintotheir existing safety management system.Identification and assessment of manual handlingtasksmustbeundertakenbyacompetentpersontrainedinthetechniques ofmanualhandling.Suchabodyshouldhaveanunderstandingof:therequirements oftheregulationsasdetailedabove,theextentandnatureofmanualhandlingtasks withinthedepartment,humancapabilities,howtoidentifyhighriskactivitiesand practicalstepstoachieveriskreduction.Itislikelythattrainingintechniquesof manualhandlingwillberequiredformanyactivities,ifthisisthecaseanappropriate trainingexerciseshouldbeselectedfromthetrainingresourceslistedbelow.Heads ofDepartmentwillwishtooverseeassessmentssincetheyhaveresponsibilityfor them.
TRAININGANDSUPPORTMATERIALS
Video - Lifting and carrying (I5 mins) Booklet on techniques of manual handling
Human kinetics training course for handlers (2hrs)
PleaseapproachTheUniversityHealthandSafetyManagerforfurtherdetailsofthesetraining and support materials.
Managers should ensure that their staff receive the right training and that their staff
are aware of their own responsibilities;
•To comply with safety,training,information and instructions
•All hazards are reported
•All incidents are reported using the University incident reporting form
•Attend training and update refresher training when requested
• Wear Personal protective equipment, where appropriate
AGUIDETOMANUALHANDLINGRISKASSESSMENTANDRISKREDUCTION
1)What is manual handling
1.1)Manualhandlingisthehandlingofloadsbyhumaneffort,asopposedto mechanicalhandlingbycrane,lifttrucketc.Mechanicalassistance may reducebutnoteliminatemanualhandlingsincehumaneffortisstillrequiredto move, steady or position the load.
2)Why risk assessment
2.1)Oncehazardousmanualhandlingtaskshavebeenidentifiedthenin ordertomanagethemthereneedstobeanassessment, whichidentifiesand evaluatesthesignificantriskfactorsandspecifiesthemeasuresnecessaryto eliminate or reduce risks.
2.2)Agoodriskassessmentwillconsiderthetask,theenvironment,theload and the individual handler's capability.
2.3)Theobjectoftheriskassessment(inorderofpreference)istoeliminate activitytoreduceriskandtoprovidetrainingandinformationwhere appropriate.
3)Skills and knowledge requiredfor assessment
3.1)Thepersonorgroupundertakingtheassessmentshouldhavean understanding of: the requirements of the regulationsas detailed above.
3.2)Thenatureandextentofhandlingoperationswithinthedepartment,human capabilities,identificationofhighriskfactorsandpracticalstepswhichcanbetaken to reduce risk.
4)How detailed should an assessment be ?
5)
4.1)WhereageneralassessmentundertheManagementofHealthand
SafetyatWorkRegulations 1999indicatesthepossibilityofinjuryconsideration should be first be given to avoiding the need for the operations in question.
4.2)Adetailedrecordedassessmentofeveryoperationcouldbeamajor undertaking and involve wasted effort; it is not appropriate iftheoperationsare easily avoided or if the risk is clearly of a low order.
4.3)Ajudgmentshouldbemadeastothenature(minororsevere)and likelihoodofinjury.Appendix1providessomesimplenumericalguidelinesto assist with this initial judgment.
4.4)Thoseoperationsfallingoutsidetheguidelinelimitsrequireassessment that is more detailed.
4.5)Genericassessments which drawtogethercommonthreadsfroma range of similar activities are quite acceptable.
4.6)Assessmentsshouldidentifyinbroadtermstheproblemslikelytoarise duringthekindsofoperationsthatcanbeforeseenandthemeasureswhich willbenecessarytodealwiththem.Inthecaseofdeliveryoperationsfor exampleausefultechniqueistolistthevarioustypesoftask,loadand workingenvironmentconcernedandthentoreviewaselectionofthem.The aimistoestablishtherangeofriskstowhichpeopleareexposedandthento decide on preventive steps.
6)Making an assessment
5.1)Whenmakinganassessmentitshouldfollowthestructuresetoutinthe guidance five steps to risk assessments published by the HSE
Step 1Look for the hazard.
Step 2Decide whomight be harmed and how.
Step 3Evaluatetheriskanddecideifexistingprecautionsareadequateor whether more should be done.
Step 4Record your findings.
Step 5Review your assessments and revise it if necessary.
7)Practical risk reduction:
Yourriskassessmentwillhaveidentifiedthemainriskfactorsanditisthesewhich youmustattendtotoreducetheriskofinjury.Whenconsideringreducingriskone mustbearinmindthecostofanychange,wherethecostofachangegreatly outweighs the risk involved then such a change is not appropriate.
Whereroutinemanualhandlingoperationsarecarriedoutforexampleinproduction type environment then changestothetaskandtheworkingenvironment arelikelytobeappropriate.Whereoperationsarecarriedoutinachanging environmentmoreinterestshouldfocusontheload-forexamplecanitbemade easier to handle?
Mechanicalassistance(whereappropriate)involvestheuseofhandling aids. Therearemanyexamples.Alevermayremovehandsfromatrappingareaand reducetheforcerequiredtomovetheload.Asacktruck,trolleyorrollerconveyor mayreducetheforcerequiredtomoveloadshorizontally.Ahoistcantakethe weightofaloadleavingtheoperatorfreetopositionit.Hooks,handles,webbingor suction pads can simplify handling a load, whichis difficult to grasp.
Thetask:Theoptimumstorageandmovingheightforloadsisatwaistheight, storagemuchaboveorbelowthisheightshouldbereservedforloadswhichare lighterormoreeasilyhandled,orloadswhicharehandledinfrequently. Also changestothetasklayout,theequipmentusedorthesequenceofoperationscan reduce the need for stooping, twisting and stretching.
Theload:Considerationshouldbegivento reducingaloadsweight,canthe departmentspecifylowerpackageweightsorsmallerpackagecontainers?Ifagreat varietyofweightsistobehandledthencantheybesortedintoweightcategories? Canloadsbemadelessbulkysothattheyareeasiertogaspandheldclosetothe body?
Alternativelyhandles,indents,slingsorothercarryingdevicesmayalsomake-loads easiertograsp.Packagingmaystabilisealoadthat lacks rigidityandpreventit fromshiftingunexpectedly.Ideally,containersholdingliquidsorpowdersshouldbe wellfilledleavingonlyasmallamountoffreespace.Loadswhicharehotorcoldor whichhavejaggedorsharpedgesmayrequireaninsulatedcontainerortheuseof gloves to prevent injury.
Theworkingenvironment:Theprovisionofsufficientclearfloorspaceandthe avoidanceofrestrictivedoorways,fixturesormachinesshouldbeachievedwhere possible.Floorconditionshouldbeflatandwellmaintainedandclearofspillagesor obstructions.Wherefloorsareliabletobecomewet,attentionshouldbegiventothe provisionofslipresistantflooring.Makesureyouknowwhereyouaregoingtoset down the item being transported and that the area is clear of obstructions.
Transitionofaloadfromoneleveltoanothershouldbemadeideallybymeansofan elevatororagentleslopeorfailingthatbywellmaintainedandwellpositionedsteps. Extremesoftemperature,excessivehumidityandpoorventilationshouldbeavoided where possible either by improving environmental control or by relocating the work.
Lightingshouldbesufficienttoallowhandlerstoseewhattheyaredoingandjudge distance and position.
Theindividual:Particularconsiderationshouldbegiventohandlerswhoareor recentlyhavebeenpregnantorhavehadabackorherniainjuryorothersuchinjury which affects their capability. An individual's general state of health and fitness does affect their capability however reliable selection of individuals for handling tasks using
suchcriteriaisnotpossible.Itisgenerallyrecognisedthatadegreeofself-selection shouldbecateredforinphysicallydemandingtasks.Unaccustomedexertionfor exampleonstartinganewjoborreturningfromabsenceorholidaycancarrya significantriskofinjury.Trainingcoursesandmaterialsforhandlersareavailable andcanreducetheriskofinjury,howevertheprimaryobjectiveshouldalwaysbeto optimise the design of the task.
APPENDIX1
NUMERICAL GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT
Theguidelinefiguresarenotweightlimits,theyareintendedasaninitialfilterto identifythoseoperationsrequiringaderailedassessment.Guidelinefiguresmaybe exceededhoweverwheretheyareexceededbyafactoroftwothetaskshouldcome underveryclosescrutiny.Thereisawiderangeofindividualcapabilityinthe workingpopulation.Theguidelinefiguresareappropriatefornearlyallmenandover halfofwomen.Reducetheguidelinesbyonethirdtomakethemappropriatefor nearly all-working women.
Liftingandlowering:
Theseguidelinesassumethatthehandlerhasastablebodyposition,theloadis readilygraspedwithbothhandsandtheoperationtakesplaceinreasonableworking conditions.
Twisting:
Thebasicguidelinesforliftingandloweringshouldbereducedifthehandlertwiststo thesideduringtheoperation.Figuresshouldbereducedby10%wherethehandler twists through 45 degrees and by 20% where the handler twists through 90 degrees.
Frequencyofliftingandlowering:
Thebasicguidelinesforliftingandloweringareforrelativelyinfrequentoperations (upto30operationsperhour).Theyshouldbereducedby30%wheretheoperation isperformedonceortwiceperminute,by50%wheretheoperationisrepeatedfive toeighttimesperminuteandby80%wheretheoperationisrepeated12timesper minute.
Carrying:
Basicguidelinesforcarryingarethesameasforliftingandloweringalthoughitis assumedthatloadsarenotnormallycarriedbelowknuckleheight.Theloadshould becarriedclosetothebodyandnomorethan10 m without a rest;otherwisethe guidelinefiguresshouldbereduced.Ifloadscanbecarriedsecurelyontheshoulder withoutfirsthavingtobeliftedamoredetailedassessmentmayshowthatitis permissible to exceed the guideline figure.
Pushingandpulling:
Whereforceisappliedbetweenknuckleandshoulderheighttheguidelinefigurefor stoppingorstartingtheloadis25kg.Theguidelinefigureforkeepingtheloadin motion is 10kg.
Handlingwhilstseated:
Thisguidelinefigureappliesonlywhenthehandsareintheboxzone.Ifhandling beyondthezoneisunavoidableortwistingisinvolvedthenamoredetailedassessment should be made.
Forfurtherinformation,pleaseconsultHSEpublication“GettingtoGripswithManual Handling” a short guide, available fromthe Health and Safety Unit ext 3317.