Safe Manual Handling Operation. Improving Everyone s Health & Safety

Transcription

1 Safe Manual Handling Operation Improving Everyone s Health & Safety

2 What Is Manual Handling? Any transporting or supporting of a load by hand or bodily force This includes: Lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving This human effort can be applied indirectly Such as hauling on a rope Pulling a lever Applying a force to manipulate a load supported on a Spade, Fork or similar implement

3 Refresher Session For All The Team on Lifting And Shifting In this session we will be covering the following:- Sufficient understanding and knowledge of Manual Handling, the risks involved and the control measures available. Why are safe Manual Handling techniques important? Refreshing your knowledge on the best methods for lifting, pushing and pulling items The main types of injury caused by poor manual handling Using our Values to help us remember correct Manual Handling Checking your knowledge with a quick quiz

4 As you become more confident and lift or move more and more loads, it s easy to get into bad habits. Think Before you move an item make sure you have cleared a space at your destination. Is it too heavy? Do you know where you are taking it to? Have you got a good grip of the item? Think about your own techniques regularly to make sure you are still lifting safely, it takes practice. It may be that you need to use equipment to enable you to move items with ease, such as flat-bed trolleys or steps Remember There is a safe way to use these pieces of equipment. So make sure that you have had training on the relevant piece of equipment you intend to use. For safety ensure any damage/defects to equipment are reported so accidents can be avoided

5 Practical Pointers for Correct Manual Handling Consequences of Poor Manual Handling Back injuries are the most common injury suffered in UK workplaces. Most of these are caused by incorrect lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling. So how can we, at Pets at Home, try to avoid injury? Pushing & Pulling Where possible try to push rather than pull, providing you can see over the top and are able to control steering and stopping. (Pushing takes less force than pulling.) This will reduce the risk of sustaining an injury. Try to move no faster than walking pace. This will stop you becoming too tired too quickly and mean you can stop easily.

6 Practical Pointers for Correct Manual Handling Lifting When lifting your feet should be apart with one in front of the other to stabilise you as you lift. Make sure you keep your head up look ahead not down once carrying your item. If you need to adjust your hold on an item you are carrying place the item down and redistribute it rather than whilst carrying it If you are in doubt about the weight an item you need to move and are unsure whether you can lift it ask for help. As with lifting make sure you are stable when lowering an item. Make sure you lower the item smoothly to avoid the risk of injury. Twisting Avoid twisting or leaning sideways whilst your back is bent. Shoulders should be kept level and face the same way as your hips. Turning by moving your feet is better than trying to lift and twist at the same time

7 Here are some lifting and lowering guidelines to assist you with manual handling. Each section contains a guideline weight for lifting and lowering in that zone. Notice how the amount you can lift, push or pull alters depending upon the height you are at and differs for men and women. Working within these guidelines will help reduce the risk of injury. Remember the amount which can be lifted may alter for certain team members, such as those who may have previous injuries to take into account or who may be pregnant.

8 Safety Checklist Remember TILE Task Review the Task, the way that we organise and carry out the task which might affect our health and safety? Individual Take into account the people who are doing the job and how it might affect their health and safety? Load Look at the load, size, weight etc this may affect our health and safety? Environment Observe the place you work in, it may affect our health and safety when carrying or moving loads?

9 Safety Checklist Planning & Preparation Do you know where you are taking the item? Have you made sure there is enough space to put your item down? Position Are you balanced correctly? Are you twisting? Are you reaching? Are you close enough to the item to lift it? Grip Have you got a good grip of the item? Are you holding the Item close to you? Safe Lifting Is the item too heavy? Do you need to ask for help or use equipment? Moving the Load Have you checked that the area around you is safe? Are There other people around you? Lowering the Load Are you stretching or bending? Is there space to put your Item down? Team Help each other and point out bad techniques or risks

10 Values & Manual Handling Our Values can help us when thinking about Manual Handling. In particular:- We Work as a Team This is important when lifting large items. Rather than struggle ask for assistance. If you can see another team member trying to lift a large Item offer to help. We Get Better Every Day No matter how pleased we are with what we have achieved, we all need to think how we can do things better It Should be Fun Working at Pets at Home should be enjoyable so make sure you follow the guidelines and stay healthy.

11 Guidance on how to Lift Safely

12 1.Stop and Think

13 2.Place the feet

14 3.Get a Firm Grip

15 4.Don t Jerk

16 5. Move the Feet, Keep Close to the Load

17 6.Put down, Then adjust

18 Quick Quiz 1. If you are unsure of the weight of an item what should you do? 2. It is better to pull a trolley. TRUE or FALSE 3. What is the recommended weight for a man to lift at elbow height? 4. What is the most common injury caused by poor manual handling? 5. When should you avoid twisting? 6. How should your feet be placed for lifting and lowering items? 7. What should you do if you notice damage to a piece of equipment you have used? 8. What is the recommended weight for a woman to lift at knuckle height? 9. Why does the amount you can lift alter depending upon the height of the item? 10. Who may the standard weight guidelines alter for?

19 Answer Sheet for Quick Quiz 1. Always ask for help if you are unsure of the weight of an item to prevent the risk of injury i.e. rabbit hutches 2. FALSE where possible you should always try to push as this takes less force than pulling 3. 20kg close to the body or 10kg if arms are extended 4. Back injuries are the most common injuries caused by poor manual handling 5. You should avoid twisting when the back is bent. Turning by moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time 6. The feet should be apart with one leg slightly forward to maintain balance, alongside the load if it is on the ground (you should be prepared to move your feet during the lifting/lowering to maintain stability) 7. You should always report damage/defects so that accidents can be avoided. Make sure you advise your manager and that a note is put on the equipment so other team members are aware kg close to the body or 10kg if the arms are extended 9. The amount you can lift alters depending upon the height because lifting at these levels exerts more strain. The reduced weight means accidents are prevented 10. Standard weight guidelines may alter for colleagues such as those with previous injuries, ill health, young or new & expectant mothers.

20 Training Record Sign Off Sheet Name.. Store Colleague No.. Received Safe Manual Handling training Received Practical Pointers & guidance including assess to HSE Getting to grips with manual handling (located on back office) This training record sheet forms part of every colleagues in store training record and file. This training will be carried out on an annual basis to form part of the overall refresher training that all colleagues receive. Colleague Signature Date Manager Signature Date This sign off sheet should be retained in the colleagues personnel file in store.