Did you know that every year, millions of people are injured as a result of manual handling? In fact, it is one of the leading causes of workplace injury. In this blog post, we will discuss some safe manual handling practices that can help prevent injuries. Following these tips can help keep you safe while lifting and moving heavy objects!
What is manual handling?
Manual handling is any activity that requires you to lift, lower, push, pull or carry an object. It can also include activities such as turning, twisting or reaching. Manual handling is a common cause of workplace injuries, such as strains and sprains.
How to Prevent Injuries in Manual Handling:
- Use your legs, not your back, to lift
- Keep the load close to your body
- Avoid twisting your body while lifting or carrying
- Use appropriate equipment, such as trolleys or dollies, when available
If you are lifting a heavy object, it is important to get help from another person. If you are lifting an object by yourself, be sure to use proper technique. For example, when lifting a heavy box from the ground, you should:
- Squat down and bring your hips close to the object
- Grip the object tightly with both hands
- Use your legs to stand up, keeping the load close to your body
- Avoid twisting or turning your body while lifting
Following these safe manual handling practices can help prevent injuries. If you are injured as a result of manual handling, be sure to seek medical attention right away.
What to do if you are injured at work:
If you are injured as a result of manual handling, be sure to tell a manager and fill in an incident report. Sometimes an injury can seem minor but turn into a bigger problem later where you need time off or treatment but have no proof that the incident occured at work.
For serious injuries, seek medical attention right away. Some workplace injuries may require time off work to recover, so it is important to have a plan in place in case this happens.
For more information on reporting workplace injuries, click here!
The best way to track and record workplace injuries to ensure that they are correctly reported and followed up in your workplace, is to use an internal Incident Report Form and Incident Register.
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