Manual Handling is about moving items, either by lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing or pulling. Manual handling injuries are part of a wider group of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) which covers injury, damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues in the upper or lower limbs, or the back. The weight of the item is an important consideration in determining the risk of injury, but there are also many other factors which have a bearing, for example the number of times items are picked up, how close they are held to the body, the distance they are carried and where they are being picked up or put down. Also, if there is any twisting, bending, stretching or other awkward posture adopted during the manual handling task then this can add to the risk of injury.
Many manual handling injuries are cumulative and not caused by any single accident. Poor manual handling invariably leads to MSDs, but many of these injuries can also be caused by different work-related factors, such as use of vibrating tools, or repetitive movements over a long period of time.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics, 470,000 workers suffered from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (either new or long-standing) in 2020/21. Of the 1.7 million workers suffering from work-related ill health (new or long-standing) in 2020/21, 28% of those were reportedly suffering from a MSD.
The problems associated with manual handling are not confined to a few industries but affect most workplaces. On average, in 2020/21 across all industries MSDs affected 1,130 workers in every 100,000. The highest rates were found in construction (1,830 cases per 100,000 workers) and human health and social work (1,500 cases per 100,000 workers). In terms of occupation, skilled trade occupations, those working in the care, leisure and other service occupations, plus those working as process plant and machine operatives have been shown to have significantly higher rates of MSD than that for all occupations.
Employers are legally required to risk assess the issue of manual handling in the workplace. Wherever reasonably practicable, they need to first reduce the need for manual handling in the workplace, either by eliminating such tasks completely or by use of work equipment such as conveyors or fork-lift trucks. Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the manual task, there is a requirement to assess the manual handling activity in detail.
The most common cause of musculoskeletal back injuries from poor manual handling are disc injuries. The vast majority of back problems are caused by disc lesions. When in an upright position, the back is able to withstand considerable stress directly through the length of the spine, but when the back is bent, the stress is concentrated on one point of the spine. Continued pressure on a particular point can “pinch” the inter-vertebral disc between the vertebrae. This effect can cause wear, which in turn can lead to a rupture when the disc is under pressure.
Good handling techniques which can help to reduce the likelihood of musculoskeletal back injuries and other injuries can include:
- Think before you lift – consideration should be given as to where the load is to be carried, whether assistance is required etc.
- Keep the load close to your waist – the heaviest side next to the trunk.
- Adopt a stable position – the handler should place his feet apart, to provide a balanced, stable base.
- Ensure a good hold on the load – the arms should be kept within the boundary of the legs.
- Moderate flexion (slight bending) of the back, hips and knees at the start of the lift is preferable to fully flexing the back (stooping) or the hips and knees (squatting).
- Do not flex the spine any further as the item is lifted.
- Avoid twisting the trunk or leaning sideways, particularly while the back is bent.
- Keep the head up when handling.
- Move smoothly.
- Do not lift more than is easily manageable.
- Put down then adjust – load should be positioned precisely after it has been placed down.
