Safetycare UK produces Occupational, Health and Safety DVDs and videos for British Workplaces. Our OHS videos are a perfect safety training tool for training sessions and safety induction meetings. Using our Comprehensive Training Course Manuals in conjunction with our safety training DVDs, will allow you the trainer, to run an extremely effective OHS training course.

Manual handling - health and safety awareness in the workplace

Lifting, Carrying and Manual Handling

Statistically manual handling injuries account for around 40% of all workplace accidents. Clearly there is a need for a manual handling training program in every organisation because to some degree or other, everyone is exposed to the risk of incurring a manual handling injury.

What is a Manual Handling injury

Manual handling can lead to injury through the development of musculoskeletal disorders, the human spine and associated anatomy is the primary victim in these kinds of injuries. Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is a term that describes injuries affecting the bones and soft tissue structure of the body, this definition usually excludes the other organs of the body.

Therefore Manual Handling injuries often include back injuries, injuries to the parts of the spine including nerves, bones, joints and soft tissue hernias, ruptured discs and torn back muscles.
Other examples would include sprains of ligaments, strains of muscles or tendons, therefore sprained ankles, strained neck muscles, tendonitis, spondylolisthesis and carpel tunnel syndrome are common in this range of workplace injury.

Other forms of Manual Handling injury include repetitive computer and mouse work known as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).
Because these minor strains and gradual wear and tear may not involve pain at the time the manual handling activity is carried out, this can often lead to the incorrect perception that these activities don't involve any risk.

How do Manual Handling Injuries occur

A manual handling operation may be defined as 'any transporting or supporting of a load including lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving by hand or bodily force'. Manual handling also encomapses tasks involving:

repetitive actions, with or without force;
sustained and/or strained work postures;
and exposure to whole body or hand-arm vibration.

This type of office injury can often be fixed by implementing a simple Ergonomic approach to the office placement of tools and technologies.

Approximately one third of all injuries reported to enforcing authorities are due to incorrect manual handling which can be avoided in any workplace if some thought is given to techniques and organisation that make a workplace more efficient.

Employer Obligation in regard to Manual Handling

Incorrect manual handling techniques are one of the leading causes of injury in the workplace. So it is recommended that all staff are updated at least annually in correct and approved moving and handling practices.

Prospective employees should be educated on the correct manual handling proceedures and the principles of lifting and carrying, including squat technique, lumbo-pelvic stability and general posture and movement patterns.
Prospective employees should also be educated in the general anatomy and structure of the spine, how the spine reacts to incorrect lifting techniques and the potential dangers of postural imbalances.

Should a manual handling hazard be identified in the workplace it is important to inform your area supervisor to assess the risk of it causing injury.
Can the risk of the Manual Handling hazard be reduced or eliminated by a simple reorganisation of proceedure ?

If you experience pain or discomfort while undertaking a manual handling task, again you should inform your area supervisor, if your pain persists, then you should definately see a doctor and get some medical advice. Your health should be most precious to you, as once it is lost it can be very hard to regain and lead to a world of discomfort and expense in the mean time.

Manual Handling Safety Training Video and DVD packs
Lifting and Carrying safety training Videos and DVD's
Simple Office Ergonomics

Safetycare have a variety of Manual Handling safety training products avaiable.
All are up to date Health and Safety approved video and DVD titles with accompanying materials including posters and manuals.
Let Safetycare take the trouble out of your Manual Handling safety training program

Safetycare's Occupational, Health and Safety DVDs and videos are relevant to British workplaces and cover many OHS issues including Manual Handling, Behavioural Safety, Portable Fire Extinguishers, Understanding Hazards and Risks, Slips Trips and Falls, Workplace Housekeeping, Forklift and Crane Safety, COSHH, PPE etc.