mechanical and manual handling hazards and control 07 - … and... · mechanical & manual...

Mechanical & Manual Handling

Hazards and Control

General Certificate NGC2 Element 2

References

• Page 147

• Manual Handling Operations Regulations

1992

• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment

Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

• The Provision and use of Work Equipment

1998

Manual Handling Operations

Regulations 1992

What is meant by

MANUAL HANDLING?

Manual handling is any transporting or

supporting of a load, including:

Lifting

Putting Down

Pushing

Pulling

Carrying or Moving of a load

What is meant by

MANUAL HANDLING

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE

MANIPULATION OF TOOLS, CONTROL

LEVERS

& VALVES

Manual Handling?

Accidents

This information is based on

reported over three day injuries only

More than a quarter of the accidents

reported to enforcing authorities are

associated with Manual Handling

21%

15%13%

5%

35%

8%3%

Trips

Struck by

Other

Machines

Handling

Fall

Chemicals

Manual handling - injuries at work UK

Manual handling injuries at work -

UK

65%6%

7%

8%

9%5%

Sprains & strains

Fractures

Lacerations

Contusions

Superficial

Others

Manual handling injuries at work -

UK

45%

16%

9%

8% 6% 3%

13%

Back

Fingers & thumbs

Arm

Lower Limb

Torso

Hand

Other

Manual handling at work

Key facts

• Single biggest cause of lost time injuries

• Majority of injuries are sprains and strains (65%)

• Back injuries account for 45%

These are the most likely lifting errors that cause nearly all

manual handling or back related injuries.

High risk activities that can cause

back pain

• Traditional methods of lifting

• Repetitive or restricted movements

• Moving awkward or heavy loads

• Working in an awkward posture

• Frequent bending

• Forceful, repetitive or rapid lifts

These are the most common errors people make when

lifting things:

High risk activities that can cause

back pain

• Holding loads away from body

• Twisting

• Stooping

• Reaching upwards

• Excessive up and down movements

Main causes of back pain

• Cumulative builds up over a period of time e.g. poor posture or obesity

• Traumatic- caused by sudden violent stress e.g. one man lift for a whacker

• Degenerative vibration & shocks to the spine e.g. lorries/grab lorries

1. Cervical (neck)

The smallest vertebra that supports the smallest amount of weight. It also

cradles the skull and provides movement and rotation

2. Thoracic (Chest)

This group supports the ribs but doesn’t provide a great deal of rotation

3. Lumbar (lower back)

This supports a large amount of weight and provides good movement for

the upper body. It is also the source of the majority of spine related

injuries.

4. Sacrum (tail bone)

This consists of five vertebra that fit into the pelvic girdle.

The shape of the spine consists of four defined

curves; it is not straight and rigid

The Spine

The intervertebral discs are made up of a strong ‘fibrous’ layer called

annulus and a soft, jelly like inner layer called nucleus.

Intervertebral disc

How to lift?

• No matter how you are taught you are going

to do it your way!

• Its too difficult to do it the proper way!

• I have done it this way for years!

•WRONG!!!!!

Four basic requirements for

manual handling• Avoidance

– Can it be mechanised?

• Assessment

– Identify hazards and apply control measures

• Risk Reduction

– Can the weight be reduced

• Training

– Kinetic lifting technique

Manual handling

How to do it – 1

• Assess the load

• Foot position

• Centre of gravity (of load)

• Unlock knees/hips

• Hand position/palmar grip

Manual handling

How to do it – 2

• Straight back

• Head up

• Thighs do the work

• Load close to the body

• Load not too high

Manual handling – risk assessment

What to consider?

• Task

• Individual

• Load

• Environment

The Task

Manual handling – Risk assessment

• Frequency of lift

• Stooping or Twisting

• Bending sideways

• Reaching above shoulder

• or below knee

• Changing grip

• Effort required

• Carrying up/down stairs/steps

• Distance traveled

The Individual


• Under 18 over 50

• Gender

• Heart problems

• Respiratory problems

• Weak/damaged back

• Hernias

• Fitness

• Training and skills

• Experience

The Load


• Size

• Shape

• Weight

• Centre of Gravity

• Loose Material

• Sharp Edges or Corners

• Hot/Cold

• Type of Contents

The Environment


• Adequate space

• Is good posture possible

• Obstacles

• Hot/cold/wet/dry

• Lighting/visibility

• Noise, vibration

• House keeping

• Weather Conditions

Manual handling - Individual risk

assessment

Selecting methods of reducing risk

• Can you avoid manual handling?

• Can you use a mechanical aid? Sack trucks, trolleys etc

• Can you split the task to make it more manageable?

• Can someone help you?


Regulations 1992 Regulation 4 (Duties of Employers) is broken down

into 5 other Sections

4(1)(a) Avoidance of Manual Handling

4(1)(b)(i) Assessment of Risk

4(1)(b)(ii) Reducing the Risk of Injury

4(1)(b)(iii) The load - providing additional information

4(2) Reviewing the Assessment


Regulations 1992

Amended in 2002 to take account of individual

capabilities etc

HSE ASSESSMENT FILTER

Generally, for infrequent

lifting/lowering

actions, tasks moving

loads inside the weight

parameters do not

require formal

assessment – but use

with care !

Mechanical

Handling

Four elements

• Mechanical handling equipment

• The load

• The workplace

• The employee

Four elements

• Mechanical handling equipment

– Must be capable of lifting/moving the

load

– Must be fault free

– Well maintained

– Inspected regularly

– Hazards include: collisions between

people & equipment, trapping of body in

moving parts

Mechanical Handling Devices

An example of Manual

Handling Automation

Bob

Bill

?

Four elements

• The load

– Must be made ready to be moved

– Hazards include: nature of load i.e.

flammable or hazardous to health,

security and stability i.e. collapsing

pallets

Four elements

• The Workplace

– Designed so that worker is separated

from moving loads

– Hazards include: – falling items from craned load

Four elements

• The employee

– Must be properly trained and

competent

– Must be supervised

Mechanical handling Equipment

Conveyors• Belt, roller and screw

• Hazards include: nip, entanglement, loads

falling off, impact against overhead

systems, collisions between people &

equipment, trapping of body in moving

parts, manual handling, noise & vibration

Mechanical handling

Elevators• E.g. Brick elevator

• Hazards include: nip, entanglement, loads

falling off, impact against overhead

systems, collisions between people &

equipment, trapping of body in moving

parts, manual handling, noise & vibration

Mechanical handling

Fork lift or

powered industrial trucks• Hazards include: overturning, overloading,

collisions, silent operation, uneven floors, overhead obstructions, loss of load, poor maintenance, use of work platform, speed, poor vision, pedestrians, dangerous stacking, carrying passengers, fire, lack of driver training

Mechanical handling

Fork lift trucks• Hazards include:

noise, exhaust,

vibrations, manual

handling, ergonomics

Hazard elimination - FLT

• Testing – Certificate required, info on maximum loads (SWL) - LOLER

• Maintenance – Inspected regularly, records kept, condition of tyres, brakes, audible alarms, lights, properly adjusted seat,

• Operator – Training for driver and slingers

• Lighting

• Driver training

Hazard elimination - FLT

• Operating area

– look at overhead cable, pits, drains, striking

other FLT’s

– Blind corner elimination (mirrors)

– Passing places

– Proper storage routes kept clear

– Exclusion of pedestrians

– Suitable warning signs & signals

Fork Lift Truck

• Create an

operator’s

checklist for a

workplace FLT

What can go wrong - cranes

• Overturning

• Overloading

• Poor slinging of load

• Insecure or unbalanced load

• Collision with another structure or overhead power line

• Failure of support

• Operator error

• Loss of or exceeding (SWL) load

• Sudden loading or shock loading

• No banks man

• Lack of proper maintenance

Hazard elimination - cranes

• Testing – Certificate required, info on

maximum loads

• Maintenance – Inspected regularly, records

kept

• Operating area – look at overhead cable,

pits, drains, striking other cranes

• Operator – Training for driver and slingers


• Safety Measures;

– Load & radius indicators

– Controls – dead man type

– Over travel switches to prevent cable going into drum

– Access

– Operating position – good visibility

– Passengers – none

– Lifting tackle – safety checks for load on chains, slings,

wires, ropes, shackles and bolts


• Safety Measures;

– Do not leave load suspended whilst not in use

– Ensure that loads are never carried over people

– Lift load vertically never use to drag

– Travel with load as close to the ground as

possible

– Switch off power to crane when left unattended

– Always use out-riggers where fitted

LIFTING OPERATIONS & LIFTING

EQUIPMENT REGS 1992 (LOLER)

Lifting equipment should be :

• Strong, stable and marked for SWL

• Positioned/installed to minimise risks

• Used for work which is properly planned,

organised and done by competent people

• Subjected to ongoing thorough examination

and inspection by competent persons

LIFTING OPERATIONS & LIFTING

EQUIPMENT REGS 1992 (LOLER)

A Written Scheme of Examination should be

prepared by a competent person specifying the

frequency and types of testing and inspection by

an independent engineer,

Or

All lifting equipment (and accessories) should be

thoroughly inspected and tested every 12 months

(and every six months for those that are designed

to carry people).

mechanical and manual handling hazards and control 07 - … and... · mechanical & manual...

Documents