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Manual &
People
Handling
Introduction
• Me – Declan Savage. Managing Director. HealthCo.
BSc Physiology UCD, MSc Population health UUJ, PgDip Management IMI
QQI Level 6 Manual Handling Instructor, QQI Level 6 People Handling Instructor
• Today’s session aim
• Using this interface - presentation, chat/questions, webcam,
mcq
• Support Materials
• The Audience - pen & paper, questions, discussions
4
Manual & People Handling
• Objective
– keep you healthier for
longer
– focus on reducing
musculoskeletal ill-
health (MSDs)
• Safe Manual Handling
• Effective Ergonomics
• Exercise reduces MSDs
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
MSDs are conditions affecting the
musculoskeletal system and can present in the
tendons, muscles, joints, blood vessels and/or
nerves of the limbs and back.
Symptoms may include
• pain,
• discomfort,
• numbness and tingling in the affected area
Severity can range from mild and periodic to
severe, chronic and debilitating conditions.
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
MSDs can be multifactorial in nature.
The are identified workplace risk factors which can
contribute to or exacerbate an MSD.
• Manual handling risks,
• Ergonomic risks,
• Psychosocial risks - stress, disatisfaction,
• Sedentary roles.
Anatomy of common MSDs
Back pain
Shoulder pain
Hernia
MSDs in the Workplace
For the period 2001–2010 there were 27,547
reportable injuries due to manual handling reported
to the HSA, accounting for 33% of all accidents
In 2011 the Department of Social Protection awarded
11,616 disability payment claims for persons who
were injured in the course of their work, amounting
to 506,403 days lost. 31% were MSDs.
According to the results of the Quarterly National
Household Survey (2009) which accounts for self-
reporting of work-related accidents, there were
13,099 reports related to injury to bone, joint or muscle,
accounting for 42% of all reports
Manual Handling
What is manual handling?
Manual handling means…. 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.
At work manual handling is a risk
when…… by reason of its
characteristics or unfavourable
ergonomic conditions, involves risk,
particularly of back injury, to
employees.
Let’s cut to the chase...
Legislation
Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (General Applications)
Regulations 2007, Chapter 4 Part 2. Manual Handling of
Loads
Employers - Avoid manual handling!
• Risk assess & plan
• Provide guidelines & training
• Supervision, incident register, H&S officer
Employees
• Cooperate
• Report
Detailed guidelines per industry
Recommended weight limits
Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment
Load Object - Weight, Bulk, Position, Grips, Hot, Sharp, Fragile,
Person - Physical capability, Cooperation, footwear, pain.
Individual Can I safely complete this task alone? Am I twisting?
Get help. How many? Who is suitable? Willing?
Who is taking the lead and coordinating?
Task Examine the whole task. How many times will it need to be
completed? Does it require carrying over distances? Might
there be sudden movements? What is the timeframe for
completion?
Environment Environment – Trip and slip hazards , traffic, heights, stairs,
clutter
& Equipment Equipment that might make the task safer?
Objects – Trolleys, wheelbarrow, conveyor, forklift
People – Handling Aid, Walking aid, Stand Aid, Hoist? What
type & what sling?
Activity
Complete a risk assessment for a
Load manual job you undertake within
your workplace, make it one that
Individual you are finding strenuous
currently.
Task
Decide on a set of guidelines on
Environment & how the task should be
completed safely. Are there any
Equipment difficulties implementing this in
your workplace?
Handling Principles
1. Think LITE.
2. Keep the load close to your waist.
3. Adopt a stable position.
4. Ensure a good hold on the load.
5. At the start of the lift, moderate flexion (slight bending) of the
back, hips and knees is preferable to fully flexing the back
(stooping) or the hips and knees (squatting).
6. Don’t flex your spine any further as you lift.
7. Avoid twisting the trunk or leaning sideway, especially while the
back is bent.
8. Keep your head up while handling.
9. Move smoothly.
10. Don’t lift more than you can easily manage.
11. Put down, then adjust.
Health and Safety Executive 2003. The Principles of Good Manual Handling, Achieving a Consensus.
E is for Ergonomics
Ergonomics is about designing or planning work tasks in such
a way as to improve human health, comfort and performance.
Ergonomics in practice involves a study of work activities and
the work environment in order to understand how people carry
out the work activities.
Human performance is affected by:
● Physical ergonomics: the physical requirements of an activity
● Cognitive ergonomics: the way information in relation to the
task is presented to the person
● Organisational ergonomics: how work is organised, for
example shift patterns
E is for Ergonomics
Good ergonomic practice ensures
that work activities take account
of the human input in completing
the work task by:
● studying how the task is
carried out,
● identifying ergonomic risk
factors and recognising their
impact on human health,
● making engineering and/or
organisational interventions
to minimise or eliminate these
risk factors.
E is for Ergonomics
Physical ergonomic risk factors
can be harmful to the body and
can lead to people developing a
musculoskeletal injury or illness.
There are 5 key physical
ergonomic risk factors:
○ force
○ awkward posture
○ repetition
○ static work
○ environmental factors
E is also for Exercise
Some is better than
none….
and more is better than
some….
…..and resistance training
is ideal
Van Eerd, D. Occup Environ Med. 2016 BMJ Publishing Group Limited.
MCQ
not an exam, no
pass or fail mark,
attempt all
questions
aids learning and
retention
Manual Handling tasks
Hands-on Learning
Bringing principles to life
Lifting and carrying loads alone
Lifting with help from
colleagues
Pushing and pulling loads
Manual Handling tasks
Workplace Specific Manual
Handling
Application of principles at
work
Use of equipment provided
People Handling Tasks
Transferring people
● Assist in g t o st a n d & sit
● Assist in g t o w a lk
● Usin g w a lkin g & st a n d in g a id s
● Ho ist in g t ra n sfe rs
● Slid in g t ra n sfe rs
Re -p o sit io n in g p e o p le
● Usin g m o t o rise d b e d s
● Tu rn in g t h e p e rso n
● Usin g slid e sh e e t s & W e n d y Le t t s
● Assist in g t h e p e rso n sit u p a n d o u t
of b e d
● Re p o sit io n in g t h e p e rso n in a c h a ir
Equipment
Evaluations
• Rating – How do you feel the course went today?
• Reflection – List your key learning points from today.
• Recommendation – What can HealthCo do to
improve this training event?
Summary
• Objective
– Prevent musculoskeletal
disorders MSDs
• LITE Manual handling
decisions
• 11 Manual handling principles
• Exercise – some is better than
none
• Effective Ergonomics
– keep you healthier for
longer
Keep in touch!
