Manual Handling
Manual Handling injuries are common in all workplaces. Manual Handling Includes sitting, twisting, lifting and repetitive movements such as operating a computer for long periods (over 30 minutes).
Statistics show that over 40% of reported claim injuries within the education profession are back related injuries due to poor manual handling practices.
If you are injured at work and require medical treatment, you have a right to claim under section 33A and regulation 23A of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.
The Hazard – Manual Handling
Hazardous manual handling involves an activity that requires the use of force exerted by a person to handle (lift, lower, push, pull, carry, hold, restrain or otherwise move, hold or restrain) any animate or inanimate object that involves one or more of: repetitive or sustained application of force, sustained awkward posture, repetitive movement, single or repetitive application of high force and/or exposure to sustained vibration.
While lifting objects is the most obvious manual handling hazard, injuries such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) also fall within this category. A chart describing characteristics of hazardous manual tasks is available on the Risk and Compliance portal.
Common manual handling injuries include back strain, sprains, soft tissue injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.
The College's Policy on Manual Handling
St Mary's College is committed to providing a safe environment for all our workers, students, visitors and guests.
It is our policy that:
- All risks arising from manual handling in the workplace are effectively identified, assessed and controlled.
- plant, equipment and containers are, as far as practicable, designed to be able to be handled safely.
- the work environment is designed to be, as far as workable, consistent with safe manual handling.
Manual Handling Risk Factors
The main manual handling risk factors are:
- work area design and layout, such as insufficient space, poor storage, stairs or obstacles in the path when carrying larger objects.
- the nature, size, weight or number of things handled in performing the manual task
- systems of work including time constraints, staffing levels and the level of resources, for example not being able to share a lifting task.
- the environment in which the manual task is performed (e.g. lighting, slippery surfaces, temperatures).
Manual Handling Hazard Control
The college will, as far as reasonably practicable, identify any manual handling undertaken or to be undertaken by an employee or staff member and eliminate any risk of harm associated with manual handling.
If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, the college will reduce the risk by:
- altering the workplace layout, workplace environment or systems which involve hazardous manual handling;
- changing the things used in the hazardous manual handling;
- using mechanical aids; or
- combining any of the risk control measures referred to above.
If the college has reduced the risk so far as reasonably practicable, and the risk of harm still exists, the college will reduce the risk further by using information, instruction or training.
The college can only solely rely in or primarily on the use of information, instruction and training to control the risk of harm if none of the measures, listed above are reasonably practicable.
When considering what measures to use to reduce harm, the college will take into account the following:
- posture
- movement
- forces
- duration and frequency of the manual handling
- environmental conditions (including heat, cold and vibration).
Staff Members' Responsibility
All Staff are responsible for carrying out their duties in a safe way and in particular in compliance with the systems and procedures that have been established to reduce manual handling injuries. This includes taking rest / pause breaks from computers.