MANUAL HANDLING & ERGONOMICS
MANAGING
MUSCULOSKELETAL MAYHEM
Gary Ellis from CE Safety, provider of training courses in manual
handlings explains how education can help reduce absenteeism and trips to A&E, alleviating the strain NHS resources.
determining the cause of a manual handling injury, such as the distance the item was carried, the number of times the item had to be picked up and put town, or any other significant movements required, such as bending or twisting.
According to the HSE, in 2015/2016, the total number of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) in the UK was more than 700,000, with a staggering 8.8million working days lost to WRMSDs alone. This means that the combination of the costs to employers, and the costs to the NHS, is in the millions, as work-related musculoskeletal disorders currently account for a staggering 34% of all working days lost due to work-related ill health in the UK.
The HSE also states that industries such as construction, agriculture and human health and social care have a significantly higher number of WRMSDs in comparison to the rates of other sectors, and the occupations that tend to have higher numbers of WRMSDs are those in skilled trade occupations. But what can be done to lower these numbers?
It goes without saying that health and safety in the workplace, and more specifically manual handling, should be at the forefront of employers’ minds; particularly for those in industries where the statistics are significantly higher. In high risk work environments, processes can be put in place to prevent and avoid employees being injured or developing WRMSDs.
No matter what industry you work in, if manual handling is a regular aspect of your day-to-day routine and responsibilities, extra care in terms of health and safety precautions must be taken. According to the HSE, manual handling injuries are part of a wider group of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and the name ‘musculoskeletal disorders’ covers a wide variety of injuries, damage or disorders of the joints or other tissues in the upper limbs, the lower limbs and the back.
For those not familiar with manual handling in the workplace, it specifically relates to those who are responsible for moving items either by pushing, pulling, lifting, lowering or carrying. The weight of the items being handled is obviously an important factor, as some may be far heavier than others. However, when injuries occur, it is not always the weight of the item that is the root cause. A number of other factors must be considered when
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Simple things, such as knowing when expiry dates on manual handling health and safety courses are due for renewal, or having trained employees in the workplace to ensure everyone is complying with manual handling regulations. Manual handling can be more than lifting boxes or objects; it can also include the moving and handling of people, which requires its own specific training to ensure everyone involved avoids injury at all costs.
Ultimately, it’s the employer’s responsibility to make sure all employees who have manual handling as part of their day-to-day responsibilities are fully trained in doing so to avoid injury, and thus save employers and NHS a lot of money. Added factors, such as ensuring the right number of first aiders are on site on a daily basis, is also extremely important, in case anyone does become injured or ill. There is more to health and safety than being legally compliant; preventing your employees from becoming ill or injured ultimately saves employers a lot of money.
www.cesafety.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com
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