Accidents and injuries resulting from manual handling at work are widespread in the UK’s construction industry. According to UNISON, one in three accidents at work is caused by manual handling, and 300,000 people in the UK suffer from back pain due to manual handling accidents. Manual handling accidents can cause damage to the back, spine or neck, leading to extreme pain and sometimes incapacity.
The most common manual handling injuries are as follows:
- Back, neck and spine injuries
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Strains and sprains
- Hernias
- Injuries to the hands, feet, ankles and wrists.
A proper risk assessment is one way to mitigate the risk of a manual handling injury in the workplace. To complete a thorough risk assessment, you can find the five steps to risk assessment in the linked blog.
What Is A Manual Handling Injury?
Manual handling is transporting a load by hand or with any other body part. Carrying tools or materials from one part of a construction site to another is an example of manual handling. Still, lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing etc., can be considered manual handling. A manual handling injury is an injury that occurs as a result of this process.
Which Manual Handling Injuries Are Most Likely?
Back injuries are the most common injury that can occur due to manual handling. Lifting or moving weights places stress on the body. If the stress is excessive, it can lead to injury. Common back injuries include pulled muscles (strains), slipped discs, sciatica (trapped nerves), and in extreme cases, broken bones.
Musculoskeletal disorders refer to various conditions affecting the bones, muscles, joints and connective tissues. Musculoskeletal disorders can be caused by manual handling, though they can be caused by other triggers as well. Lower back pain is an example of a common musculoskeletal disorder.
Strains and sprains are common injuries caused by excessively twisting or stretching a muscle. This can happen while manually handling a load, especially if the load is excessively heavy or an incorrect technique is used. Although sprains and strains are thought of as minor injuries, the NHS says it can take up to two weeks to feel better and that you should avoid strenuous exercise for eight weeks.
A hernia is a significant injury when an internal part of the body pushes out through the muscle or tissue wall. Hernias are caused by pressure, which can be triggered by manual handling, especially when there’s a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue.
During manual handling, the pressure of a load is often concentrated on the hands and feet, particularly when an incorrect technique is used. This puts the hands and feet at greater risk of injury, including sprains, strains and even broken bones. The hands and feet can also be crushed if a load is dropped, which can cause significant damage.
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What Legislation And Guidelines Cover Manual Handling At Work In The UK?
One of the key pieces of legislation on manual handling is the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002. The Regulations came into force on 1st January 1993 and were made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (the HSW Act).
The regulations require employers to do three things, namely:
- avoid the need for hazardous manual handling “so far as is reasonably practicable”,
- assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be avoided,
- reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling “so far as is reasonably practicable”.
You’ll notice that the regulations do not set specific weight limits on loads. This is because, although weight is an important factor, different weights will be appropriate for different loads, environments and individuals.
The legislation also clearly states that “where it is not possible to avoid a manual handling operation, employers have to assess any risks of injury to their employees.” In addition, employers must consult all employees, in good time, on health and safety matters.
How To Conduct A Risk Assessment For Manual Handling
Risk assessments are a crucial way to mitigate the risks of manual handling injuries in the workplace, and they are required under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
One way to run a risk assessment for manual handling is by following the five steps to risk assessment, as detailed in our blog:
- Identify the hazard
- Decide who might be harmed and how
- Evaluate the risks and take steps to prevent them
- Record your findings
- Review the risk assessment.
There is also the TILE method of risk assessment for manual handling. A risk assessment conducted using the TILE method is widely accepted.
Task: What type of task is it? Is it pulling, pushing, lifting or carrying?
Individual: What are the capabilities of the person completing the task?
Load: What are the details of the load? Think about size, shape, weight etc.
Environment: Think about the area in which the object is being moved.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national workplace health and safety regulator. The HSE has produced a leaflet to help employers in the UK comply with manual handling legislation. HSE differentiates between “lifting and carrying” and “pushing and pulling” and suggests a different risk assessment for each.
When identifying a hazard, consider things like the nature of the task, the weight of the load, the frequency of lifting/carrying, and the distance that the load is to be carried.
When deciding who might be harmed, consider not only the operator and their colleagues but also members of the public who might have access to or be near the site.
When evaluating risks, consider both the risk itself and the level of risk. For example, lifting that involves twisting, stooping or reaching upwards is especially risky. Record if a lot or a little of each risk factor is involved in a particular task.
When recommending steps to reduce risk, consider things like reducing weight loads, reducing the frequency of manual handling, and providing additional equipment and/or training for operators. Remember, you must consult employees in good time and clearly communicate the findings of the risk assessment to them.
You must record your risk assessment and properly document it so that it is clear and accessible to all that need it. Lastly, remember to include a date for review in your risk assessment. This is important because you’ll need to check if the risk assessment recommendations have been carried out and potentially make changes if the conditions have changed.
Best Practices For Reducing The Risk Of Manual Handling Injuries
Good training, technique and planning can substantially reduce the risk of manual handling injuries on construction sites and in other workplaces. You should train all employees to use the following steps each time they are involved in manual handling:
- Assess before handling:
- Is there a clear, obstruction-free route?
- Is help needed with this task?
- Could tools make this task safer?
- Get stable:
- Keep your feet slightly apart to maintain balance,
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear,
- Move your feet as needed to maintain stability.
- Hold the load:
- For many loads, it’s best to hug the load close to the body rather than holding it away from the body,
- Keep the heaviest part of the load closest, towards the waist,
- Move the load smoothly. If you are staggering, the load is too heavy, and it is not safe to handle alone or without tools,
- Keep your head up when holding the load securely, and look at the route rather than the load.
- Adopt the correct posture:
- Slightly bend your back, knees and hips to pick up the load. A full bend (stooping and/or squatting) can be risky.
- When lifting, don’t flex the back any further than is safe,
- Do not twist the back or lean sideways, especially when the back is bent,
- Keep the shoulders in line with the hips so you are not turned to one side,
- To turn, use the feet rather than the back.
Only handle what you can easily manage. Just because you can lift something does not mean it is safe. When unloading a heavy load, put it down first, then slide it into position. Do not attempt to precisely position a heavy load while you are handling it.
Summary: The Importance Of Identifying And Mitigating Manual Handling Risks
Manual handling injuries are highly detrimental for both the employers and employees affected. As manual handling is often unavoidable in the construction industry, employers must understand the relevant legislation and their responsibilities towards employees.
As stated in the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employers are legally required to “assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be avoided”. For more information on risk assessment best practices, you can read the five steps to risk assessment.
If you’re unsure of anything mentioned in this blog, you can get expert help from CHAS, a Veriforce company. To get started, look at the different CHAS membership packages available online or call our award-winning team on 0345 521 9111.
