How To Apply Safe Work Practices, Follow Procedures & Report Problems When Carrying Out Safe Manual Handling

To help prevent manual handling injuries in the workplace, you should avoid such tasks as far as possible. However, where it is not possible to avoid handling a load, employers must look at the risks of that task and put sensible health and safety measures in place to prevent and avoid injury.

Apply Safe Work Practices

1. For Any Lifting Activity Always Take Into Account:

• individual capability
• the nature of the load
• environmental conditions
• training
• work organisation

2. When Lifting Something Manually

• Reduce the amount of twisting, stooping and reaching
• Avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height, especially heavy loads
• Adjust storage areas to minimise the need to carry out such movements
• Consider how you can minimise carrying distances
• Consider team lifting
• Consider breaking the item down into smaller loads if possible
• Assess the weight to be carried and whether the worker can move the load safely or needs any help – maybe the load can be broken down to smaller, lighter components

3. When Using Lifting Equipment

• Consider whether you can use a lifting aid, such as a forklift truck, electric or hand-powered hoist, or a conveyor
• Think about storage as part of the delivery process – maybe heavy items could be delivered directly, or closer, to the storage area
• Reduce carrying distances where possible

The Importance Of Follow Procedures When Lifting

It an employer’s responsibility to provide workers carrying out manual handling with training (as well as PPE) so they can do this this safely. Rules or procedures on how to do this are provided through toolbox talks (a short presentation to the workforce on a single aspect of health and safety), site inductions or method statements. Its important that these are followed without deviation.

Reporting Problems

If you are using a piece of lifting/ manual handling equipment you should complete a visual inspection before using it. If you find a fault or a fault develops whilst using it report this to you supervisor or follow the site’s fault-reporting procedure (normally covered at induction or via method statement).

If you have been asked to carry out a manual handling task which you believe to be unsafe, where the load is too heavy for you or you have not been trained/ provided with PPE you should similarly report it to your supervisor. In the event of a manual handling injury you should inform a first aider/ follow site emergency procedures.

Walking Under Unsecured Loads 

Workers must never walk under an unsecured load and must ensure the operator is aware of them if working near vehicle. Make sure you wait for the operator to see you if trying to pass as trying to catch his/her attention can startle and cause an accident.