Make Short Work of Manual Handling

Bill Blyghton, movemanSKG’s General Manager, examines the safety considerations associated with manual handling and lifting equipment.

Manual handling includes any tasks that require an individual to lift, move or support a load. Incorrect or repetitive manual handling causes strain injuries, known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These are often severe or long-term and can have devastating health implications. MSDs account for over a third of reported injuries and affect over one million people in the UK each year. Associated costs, including lost productivity, lawsuits, rehabilitation and training replacement staff, are high.

Amended in 2002, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 aim to reduce the risk of work related MSDs. They stipulate employers should:

• Avoid hazardous materials handling operations so far as is reasonably practical.
• Assess any hazardous materials handling operation that cannot be avoided.
• Reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practical.

Consider all the activities in the workplace that involve manual handling and decide whether they are necessary. Mechanical aids, such as service lifts, hoists and lift trucks, may eliminate hazardous tasks. If manual handling is unavoidable, an accurate assessment, which involves the workforce and makes use of any available guidance, identifies the appropriate safety measures. It should examine four specific areas:

1. The Task - Does it involve stooping, twisting, reaching, bending, pulling, pushing, sudden movement, precise positioning of a load or excessive travel? Consider rearranging storage facilities to make more space or shelves available. Storing heavy items at mid-chest height makes them convenient to handle.
2. The Load - Is the load heavy, unwieldy, hot, cold or hard to grasp? Are the contents likely to shift, making the weight distribution uneven? If possible, break the load up into smaller packages to make it easier/lighter to carry. Heavy or awkward loads may require a mechanical handling aid.
3. The Individual - Think about the physical capability of staff and ensure they are capable of handling the task. Consider those who are pregnant, disabled or have a physical weakness. Provide the correct protective clothes and safety equipment, and train workers how to use it. Conduct a seminar on safe lifting and carrying techniques to help reduce the risk of injury.
4. The Environment – Ensure manual handling operations do not take place on uneven, unstable or slippery floor spaces and clear the route of obstacles. Lighting, ventilation and temperature levels must be adequate and comfortable to work in. If there are steps, ramps or variations in floor levels, consider a mechanical handling aid.

After assessing the task, implement the appropriate safety procedures. Often, a lifting aid is required for moving heavy or awkward items between levels.

Lifting aids, such as service lifts, greatly reduce the risks of injury through manual handling. All lifting equipment must comply with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), its Approved Code of Practice and the Provision of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Under the legislation, a ‘duty holder’ is anyone responsible for a lifts operation at work (e.g. the facilities manager). Duty holders have a legal responsibility to ensure lifts are safe.

Lifting equipment must be suitable for its designated activity. Consider its environment, the loads it must carry and risks posed by its operation. Check the lift is LANTAC (Local Authority National Type Approval Confederation) approved, which means it complies with building regulations. Train operators to use the lift and display appropriate signs to alert staff to its presence.

• The Lift Safety Directive (introduced by the European Commission) sets the following standards, of which facilities managers should be aware:
• The shaft must be accessible only to maintenance workers and in an emergency.
• The lift should not move unless the doors are closed.
• The lift’s speed must be controlled and kept within limits.
• The lift should have a free-fall prevention device and be completely enclosed.
• Doors must resist fire and be incapable of crushing a person or object.
• The lift should automatically shut down if overloaded.
• There should be an override control system in case of emergency.
• To prevent crushing, there should be a free space at each end of the lift shaft.

Regular maintenance is essential to lift safety. This includes topping up fluid levels, replacing worn or damaged parts and making routine adjustments to avoid risks. In addition, the law requires a thorough examination by a competent person every six to twelve months.

A competent person has sufficient technical and practical knowledge of the lift to detect defects and assess their risks. This individual should be impartial and independent to ensure an objective assessment.

The aim of a thorough examination is to detect any dangerous defects, so they can be resolved quickly. Competent persons should check and test the drive system, suspension ropes, suspension chains, overload detection devices, landing and car doors, door interlocks, safety systems, electrical devices, braking system, gearing and hydraulics. They should compile a comprehensive report, which identifies any possible risks and recommends an appropriate course of action.

It is essential to consider health and safety when choosing a service lift. Misapplied lifts can be hazardous to personnel. A good service lift manufacturer will provide a dedicated consultation service to ensure customers receive a model suited to their application.