Manual Handling covers a wide range of activities such as lifting, lowering, pulling, pushing and carrying. Whether the load being moved is heavy or light; the manner in which it is moved can make the difference between a successful procedure or a short or even long-term injury. Over a third of all workplace injuries are caused by manual handling, so what can be done to minimise the risk?
Avoid the need to lift
Where possible manual lifting should be avoided; consider if you can use a lifting aid such as a forklift truck, an electric or hand-powered hoist, or even a conveyor. Storage strategy should be considered; perhaps heavy items could be delivered directly to where they will be needed.
Lift items appropriately
If you need to lift something manually you should always try to minimise the amount of twisting, stooping or reaching. You should avoid lifting from floor level wherever possible, and also from above shoulder height; particularly with heavy loads. Storage areas should be adjusted to minimise the need to carry out such movements.
Technique
Before lifting any load, it is worthwhile to ensure that any obstructions are removed from the route to be taken. If the item is to be carried for a long distance ensure that there is a mid-way resting stop where you can safely take a break from carrying. The load should be kept as close to the waist as possible, and the heaviest side of the load should be toward the body. Adopting a stable position and ensuring a good grip of the object will minimise the risk of dropping the load.
What to do if you have been injured through manual handling?
In the case of any injury your first call should be to your doctor or medical professional to ensure any damage is treated properly and swiftly. If you feel that the injury was caused by your employment, you should contact one of our solicitors. They have years of experience in dealing with this type of case, and will swiftly be able to advise you if you could claim for compensation from your employer. If it can be proved that they failed in their duty to protect their employees from the dangers of manual handling, and you have been injured as a result of that negligence, then you should make that claim today.