---

MANUAL HANDLING

The injuries that are most commonly associated with manual handling activities include sprains and strains, back pain, damage to the back and hernias.

Some of these injuries occur when very demanding tasks are performed, such as having to lift a very heavy box. However, most of these injuries are the result of gradual wear and tear on the joints and muscles that is caused by frequent or prolonged periods of manual handling.

These gradual wear and tear injuries are of particular concern for young people. Many of the manual handling injuries, especially the severe injuries are experienced by older employees. But these are the result of wear and tear that started when they were young.

Manual handling may not appear to injure you now or when you are young, but it will effect you in later life.

Manual handling hazards - not just the weight

What makes performing a manual handling task hazardous? The weight of the objects involved is obviously an important factor in increasing the likelihood or risk that performing a manual handling task will cause injury. However, weight is not the only factor involved. Some of the other important factors are discussed below.

The movements you must use to pick up carry and deposit the object

Awkward movements, such as twisting, bending, and/or over-reaching can greatly increase the strain on your back.

How difficult it is to carry the object?

Objects that you cannot hold close to the body place a greater strain on your back.

How often, how quickly and for how long you must do the job.

What Your Employer Should Do

This must be done by using lifting equipment and other manual handling aids to eliminate the need to move things manually, and by providing manual handling training.

Where this is not practical, it can be done by making improvements to the jobs by tackling some of the other factors that can make the job hazardous.

It can at times be difficult for employers to completely eliminate manual handling jobs. However, just as there are other things than weight that make a job hazardous, so there are other things that an employer can do to improve these.

These could include:

• storing objects on benches and middle height shelves (to reduce the amount of bending and reaching);
• storing materials in containers that are easy to pick up and carry; and
• sharing the manual handling jobs between a number of employees.

What You Can Do

Report to your employer or supervisor any and manual handling tasks you find difficult.