This popped up on my LinkedIn feed last week and made me ecstatically happy UK Manual handling at work – A brief guide 01/20 INDG143(rev4).
Why is this Manual Handling Guide Useful?
I find it fascinating that I can walk into a sporting goods store and purchase running shoes, skis, and even a mountain bike that has been designed to meet the specific anatomical needs of women. Yet, it has only been this year that there has even been a drive towards distributing functional (W) PPE and work gear, and previous manual handling guides have been extremely one dimensional (male-oriented).
The UK guide has diagrams that describe both male and female manual handling baselines. I especially like the Lifting and lowering risk filter on page 7 which describes the approximate weights that people can safely lift and lower (assuming that the load is easily grasped, handled in reasonable working conditions and the worker in a stable body position). The Handling while seated diagram on page 10 is also worth looking at.
Yes, everyone one is different and individual lifting, pulling and pushing abilities will depend on a person’s age, weight, general fitness and a host of other variables. However, when it comes to preventing soft tissue injuries talking about baselines gives you an idea of what is practically possible and goes a long way down the ‘prevention’ track.
Beyond the obvious what are the differences between men and women?
Please note I am not a medical practitioner and this is a very basic discussion on what would happen if you took a man and a woman and give them identical diets and fitness regimes, then compare their physical abilities in general (according to a statistical bell-shaped curve):
- Men are taller and more muscular than women with better upper body strength.
- Women are built for carrying and birthing children, and therefore have wider and flatter pelvic bones, which lowers their centre of gravity.
- The difference in pelvic bones puts more pressure on women’s knee joints and means that their calf muscles sit lower and are shorter than a man’s. This is why women’s running shoes have a different support and cushioning structure than men’s running shoes (hiking boots, ski boots, cycling shoes etc…)
Why is this important when it comes to preventing manual handling injuries?
Soft tissue injuries, especially those involving backs, knees or shoulders can be both extremely painful and life-changing from a worker’s perspective. While an employer can quickly discover that they are moral destroying and very expensive, both in time and money.
It’s important to take the time to review manual handling risks and working out if you can eliminate the risk through automation or engineering, or taking the time to minimise the risk by assessing:
- the task;
- the load;
- the working environment;
- individual capacity;
- any materials handling equipment or handling aids used;
- how you organise and allocate work;
- the pace, frequency and duration of the work.
See p. 5 UK Manual handling at work – A brief guide 01/20 INDG143(rev4).
You also need to take into account the needs of your individual workers. For example, are they:
- people with disabilities, which may make it more difficult to do a particular task?
- returning to work after a recent manual handling injury?
- a new or expectant mother?
- inexperienced new, young or a temporary worker?
- an older worker?
- a contractor, homeworker or lone worker?
- a migrant worker who may not have English as their first language?
As always, if you have any questions or anything else to add in regards to manual handling email sarah@employmenow.co.nz or call 0272 007 680.
Have a safe and productive week.
Best, SB