A Guide to Manual Handling and Lifting Techniques

Posted by Anna Haris on January 30th, 2019

All staff in an organization is responsible for developing steps described in this procedure for any manual handling exercise. Manual handling covers a wide range of exercises, including lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, restraining, throwing and carrying. And also it includes repetitive tasks such as packing, typing, assembling, cleaning and sorting, using hand-tools, operating machinery and equipment, and handling and handling animals.

The importance of accurate manual handling can be explained in many ways. Manual handling training help workers to prevent and or reduce the risk of injury from incorrect manual handling, a trainer can advise a risk assessment which is carried out for manual handling tasks which regularly occur, especially for those which involve the lifting of heavy loads.

Proper lifting techniques for construction workers

• Observing Proper Lifting Methods

• Do not try to lift loads beyond your capability.

• Don't twist your back.

• Do not reach for objects or lift to levels that are too high.

• Put the material down slowly while keeping your back's normal arch.

The injuries and accidents in the construction site can be reduced by avoiding twisting, turning and bending of the back during the task. Health and safety experts can assist you with training the staff in the right manual handling techniques. It is always important to take a risk assessment for manual handling tasks which regularly occur, especially for those which involve the lifting of large loads.

There are many ways of Manual Handling that will increase your employee’s knowledge and experience of good safe practice within the workplace. This will help to reduce and hopefully prevent any additional damages as a result of poor Manual Handling training. Some of them are:

1) Raises Awareness

Manual Handling Training will raise awareness to employees to the possible risks and dangers immediately related to Manual Handling, increasing the importance of good practice within your employees and improving their understanding of the potential consequences if practices are ignored and Manual Handling techniques are not employed correctly.

2) Good Practice

An excellent outcome of Manual Handling Training is the understanding and learning of information and good practice in the workplace.

3) Employees in their Environment

One of the most important and helpful Manual Handling Training practices is to receive the course, within the environment, employees will be able to perform the task accurately.

4) Teaching Employees How to Use Mechanical Aids

An extremely positive result of Manual Handling Training courses on-site is to enable the instructor to show the intended and correct use of Mechanical Aids within their own working environment to assure employee safety when using such machines.

5) Learning through Experience

Due to the inclusiveness of learning from experience, many employees may be able to give insight into their past methods and techniques which have now been corrected.

6) Promotes a Healthy Workforce

The most under-estimated advantages of Manual Handling Training for employees is the improvement of a safer, healthier and happier workforce with a greater knowledge of the roles, duties and how to handle it properly without causing much damage.