Courtesy – britsafe

Manual handling comprises a huge variety of activities at the workplace like carrying, lifting, pulling, pushing, and more. However, not all handling jobs are risky and neither are all easy. A work activity or task is considered risky if it includes the following:

High, repeated, or sustained force

High force usage can lead to MSD (musculoskeletal disorders), even if it’s not sustained or repetitive. It means that the work which involves high force should be avoided wherever possible, especially if done for a short time or occasionally.

Repetitive movements

It comprises activities that need repeated use of force for a specific period to support or move an object. An example of this includes stacking and lifting goods in a pallet.

Sustained awkward posture

An awkward posture is when a body part is put in an unnatural and uncomfortable position. An office design that doesn’t consider the risks of dangerous manual jobs can make employees work in awkward postures. For instance, twisted and bent positions with raised shoulders and prolonged carrying or reaching loads.

Sustained vibration

Exposure of the whole body, arm, and hand to vibration for a long time enhances the chances of MSD and other health risks. Risk enhances with the amplitude and duration of vibration.

Handling animals or people

The behavioural and physical nature of animals and people can cause injuries from manual handling. The unpredictable movement which needs sudden force to manage is a primary cause of such injuries.

So, you should try removing actions or tasks that can cause injuries without affecting the job. In addition, participating in a manual handling awareness course can help manage things better and reduce injuries at work.