What is Manual Handling: Explained in Details

Activities, both in daily life and the workplace include some level of Manual Handling. Therefore, it is important to understand “What is Manual Handling?” It describes the action of lifting, moving, pushing, or pulling something by hand rather than with the use of equipment. We all perform physical handling tasks; however, it becomes very important to know the right technique.  

Whatever work you conduct, there is a good likelihood that it will occasionally need Manual Handling. If done incorrectly, can result in a variety of ailments, from muscle strain to severe Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).  

It can easily lead to catastrophic short, or long-term injuries. This blog answers “What is Manual Handling?” in conjunction with workplace standards, and the proper planning and execution of Manual Handling procedures.  

Table of Content 

1) What is Manual Handling? 

2) Manual Handling regulations and their impact on your workplace 

3) Manual Handling responsibilities of employers 

4) Manual Handling responsibilities of employees 

5) How to avoid Manual Handling injuries? 

6) The cost of Manual Handling injuries to the UK 

7) Tips for good lifting techniques 

8) Conclusion 

What is Manual Handling? 

The Manual Handling Operations Regulation (MHOR) of 1992 provides a description of the legal term. Regulation Section Two says that Manual Handling operation refers to moving a load by hand or by physical force, which includes lifting, putting down, pushing, tugging, carrying, or transferring it.   

The Manual Handling standards define a load as any form of inanimate thing, however, it can also be a human or an animal. In the UK, these rules must be followed by all employers, workers, and self-employed individuals.  

Manual Handling accidents are not always the result of pushing or lifting particularly big objects. The number of times you must lift or carry an object, the distance you travel with the object, the height you must pick up the object from or place it at, and any form of twisting, bending, stretching, or other awkward posture you may adopt while carrying out a certain task can all result in injuries.  

Injuries from Manual Handling can occur wherever humans are working. When making deliveries, on construction sites, farms, industries, offices, warehouses, hospitals, banks, and laboratories they can happen anywhere.  

The risk of injury increases with heavy physical labour, uncomfortable postures, and prior or ongoing injuries, which can result in Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).  

Manual labour getting injured can have implications for both the employer and the affected party. Loss of productivity, sick leave, additional expense to retrain the replacement, and potential compensation payments are all crucial factors to be considered. The affected person will also face its impact on their lifestyle, leisure activities and on any job prospects. 

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Manual Handling Regulations and its impact on your workplace 

Musculoskeletal Disorders are covered by several laws that impose obligations on both employers and employees. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act of 1974 mandates that companies’ primary legal obligation is to safeguard the health and safety of their staff members and any other individuals who might be impacted by what they do.   

According to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers in the UK are required to ensure that the workplace and all work procedures are safe for their employees. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations of 1992 make employers’ obligations, specifically with relations to Manual Handling jobs, even clearer.  

These rules apply equally to factory or construction workers who frequently handle large objects as well as to an office or retail workers who infrequently move heavy boxes. You could face criminal charges if your company is shown to be in violation of the Manual Handling Operations Regulation 1992.   

Manual Handling violations are punishable, if found violated, both individuals and businesses may face a lifetime fine or possibly a prison sentence. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and municipal governments has the responsibility to enforce health and safety laws. Each has a variety of instruments available to them in their efforts to maintain legal compliance and provide an appropriate response to offenses. Inspectors may issue ban and improvement notices as well as file charges for more serious offenses. 

Responsibilities for employers 

Avoiding Manual Handling entirely is the greatest approach to avoid any damage from it. As a result, Manual Handling requirements mandate that employers avoid certain duties. Of course, it is not always practical to avoid lifting or moving goods at work.  

If the task must be accomplished, the employer must make sure that a Manual Handling risk assessment is conducted and that the necessary precautions are implemented to lower the possibility of damage.  

Providing lifting tools or aids, as well as Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) like steel-toed boots or gloves, is one way to achieve this. Employers must also give workers all the necessary information about Manual Handling tasks, such as the weight of the load and if it could become unbalanced. 

Employees must also receive sufficient amount of instruction on how to carry out these activities correctly. 

Employers are required by law to safeguard both their employees and their own health and safety. All employers must evaluate the risks to their employees’ health while they are at work, as stated by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1999.  

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations of 1992 stipulates that Manual Handling jobs must undergo a risk assessment in addition to general risk assessment. The key areas to focus on include the task, load, work environment and capability of an individual.  
 

Responsibilities for employees 

Employees must abide by Manual Handling laws. They must follow all work procedures and operate all given PPE and lifting equipment in accordance with their intended purposes. 

They must take necessary precautions for their own health, safety, and well-being. For this, an employee must use any available equipment to avoid any hazardous Manual Handling operations.  

Employees are required by the Health and Safety etc. Act of 1974 to do jobs in a way that does not put them or anybody else in danger. Employees must also participate in any training that the employer offers.  

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How to avoid Manual Handling Injuries? 

All Manual Handling jobs must be thoroughly evaluated and planned before beginning in order to prevent injury. It is necessary to recognise and assess the risks associated with the task. There must be implementation of measures to reduce or eliminate these dangers.  

The lifting capability of the person or people involved should be taken into account when conducting risk assessments. The setting should be free of obstructions and have adequate illumination. If possible, employ lifting tools or disassemble the load into smaller parts. Techniques that are found proper should be used. 

When moving and lifting a load, always ensure the following:  

1) Move up the load with your knees rather your back. 

2) Avoid leaning, rotating or bending. 

3) Make sure your grip is firm. 

4) Lift the weight in a fluid, refined motion. 

5) Maintain the weight close to your body. 

6) When carrying a load, always look ahead. 

7) Lay the load down at hip height and take a break, if you can. 

8) Do not jerk, twist, or abruptly drop the load. 

9) If the weight needs to be placed, lower It carefully and slowly, and push it in place. 

Always take into consideration your own capabilities, the nature of the load, environmental conditions, training, and the way your work is organised while lifting anything. Try to reduce the distance for carrying the load. If lifting equipment's required, decide if you can use a forklift truck or a conveyor.  

To protect the staff safety, Manual Handling training must be strictly enforced. It helps in creating awareness, prevent mishaps, and it is essential to have a fundamental knowledge of policies, processes, and proper lifting techniques. 

Both the employers and employees have an obligation to implement practical health and safety measures when undertaking Manual Handling.
 

The cost of Manual Handling Injuries to the UK 

These injuries are frequent and include cuts, bruises, sprains, and strains as well as injuries to the back, neck, arms, feet, and hands. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders are categorised as any injury that affects the bone, joints, or muscles. Musculoskeletal Disorders’ effects can take years to manifest and are not usually immediately noticeable.  

Musculoskeletal Disorders may be temporary or permanent. The economic cost of injuries from Manual Handling is substantial in Britain. According to the Health and Safety at Work Summary Statistics for Great Britain 2022, released by the Health and Safety Executive, indicates that around 477,000 employees reported having an MSD during 2021-22.  

About 139,000 of these were said to be brand-new cases. In 2021-2022, this accounted for 27% of all cases of work-related illness. Musculoskeletal Disorder has caused a total loss of 7.3 million working days.  

Due to the fact that many cases are either underreported or workers are not away for long enough to be counted in the statistics, it can be challenging to determine the true cost of MSDs to the economy. 

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Tips for good lifting techniques 

To avoid accidents and protect your physical health, you must become proficient in good lifting techniques. Understanding the basics of lifting can therefore significantly protect you from any danger at the workplace.   

Following tips can be adopted by both employer and employee to ensure good lifting technique at workplace: 

1) Remove obstacles: Make sure the path is free of any objects that can obstruct your movement before lifting. 

2) Rest: Plan a mid-lift rest by finding a table or bench that is at waist level for longer lifts. You can alter your grip and lessen tension by doing this.  

3) Keep load close: As you lift the object, keep it as close to your waist. This encourages better control and lessens the stress on your back. 

4) Weight distribution: If there is an unequal weight distribution of the load, place the side that is heavy nearer to your body. This promotes equilibrium and lowers the possibility of twisting and straining. 

5) Sturdy base: Establish a sturdy base by standing with your feet, should-width apart. To keep your balance and distribute your weight equally, place one foot slightly in front of the other.
 

Conclusion 

To minimise injuries and promote workplace safety, it is essential to implement safe Manual Handling procedures. It is important to understand “What is Manual Handling?” to reduce strain by evaluating workers task at hand, thereby removing obstacles from the way, and learning to stand steadily. Prioritising these procedures helps in the overall job satisfaction in addition to protecting against immediate injuries.