A PowerPoint presentation covering the basics of Manual Handling in Ireland. It is to be followed by a written exam and a practical examination of the Five basic Manual Handling Techniques.

1. MANUAL HANDLING TRAINING
COURSE
PRESENTED BY JOSEPH MCNAMARA

2. RATIONALE
•Why do we Need Manual
Handling Training?
•Why is Manual Handling
Relevant and Required in
the Work Place Eviroment?
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3. MANUAL HANDLING ACCIDENTS
Statistics from the HSA
indicate that, approximately
one third of all reported work
place incidents are triggered
by manual handling activity
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4. MANUAL HANDLING APPLIES TO ALL
ASPECTS OF LIFE
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5. COST AND CONCEQUENCES
• Pain and Suffering
• Loss of Work and Earnings
• Manual Handling Incidents are Particularly
High in
• Wholesale and Retail Trade 47%
• Manufacturing 40%
• Health and Social Care 38%
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6. EMPLOYERS DUTIES – COMMON LAW
• Safe Working Enviroment
• Safe Equipment
• Safe System of Work
• Properly Trained
Employees
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7. EMPLOYERS DUTY
“Every employer shall ensure, so far as
is reasonably practicable, the safety,
health and welfare at work of their
employees”
(Section 8 (2) of 2005 Act)
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8. WHAT IS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE?
• Employer has Put in Place All
Practical Steps to Avoid Harm or
Injury.
• Proportionate Response
• Based on Risk Assessment
• Foreseeable Issues
• Subject to Regular Review
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9. EMPLOYEES DUTY OF CARE INCLUDES
• To Take Reasonable Care of Self and
Others
• To Co-operate With Employer’s
Procedures and Work Systems
• To Use the Personal Protective
Equipment Supplied Correctly
• Report Defects to Management
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10. MANUAL HANDLING OF LOADS
(PARA 68. OF 2007 G.A. REGS)
“Any transporting or supporting of a load, by one or
more employees, which includes lifting, putting down,
pushing, pulling, carrying or moving a load which, by
reason of its characteristics or of unfavourable
ergonomic conditions, involves risk, particularly of
back injury, to employees.”
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11. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY
(OVERVIEW)
• Avoid Manual Handling Where
Possible
• Risk Assessment and Reduction of
Risk
• Training and Information to
Employees
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12. AVOID MANUAL HANDLING
(PARA 69 OF 2007 G.A. REGS)
Take Appropriate Organisational Measures
OR
Use Appropriate Means, in Particular Mechanical
Equipment Where Possible
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13. ORGANISATIONAL MEASURES
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14. RISK REDUCTION MEASURES
•Organise Work Stations and
Assess Conditions of Work
•Protect Sensitive Risk Groups
•Consider Individual Capacity
•Link Health Surveillance for
Manual Handling with the
Relevant Risk Factors
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15. INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES
• Weight of Each Load
• Heaviest Side of a Load
• Centre of Gravity
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General Indications and Where Possible Precise Information On:

16. GUIDELINE WEIGHTS
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17. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOAD
•Too Heavy or to Large
•Difficult to Grasp
•Unstable or has Contents
That are Likely to Shift
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18. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOAD
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• Positioned in a Manner Requiring it
to be Held, Moved at a Distance, or
with a Bending or Twisting of the
Trunk
• Likely, Because of its’ Shape or
Consistency (or both), to Cause an
Injury to Employees, Particularly in
the Event of a Collision.

19. PHYSICAL EFFORT REQUIRED
• Too Strenuous
• Only Achieved by a Twisting
Movement of the Trunk
• Likely to Result in a Sudden
Movement of the Load
• Movement Made by the Body
in an Unstable Posture
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20. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORKING
ENVIRONMENT
• There is Not Enough Room to Carry Out the
Activity
• The floor is Uneven, Presenting a Tripping
Hazards
• The Floor is Slippery in Relation to the Employees
Footwear
• The Working Environment Prevents the Handling
of Loads at a Safe Height or With Good Posture by
the Employee
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21. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORKING
ENVIRONMENT
• There are Variations in the Level of the Floor or
the Working Surface, Requiring the Load to be
Manipulated on Different Levels
• The Floor or Footing is Unstable
• The Temperature, Humidity or Ventilation is
Unsuitable for Physical Work
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22. REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACTIVITY
• Over-Frequent or Over Prolonged
Physical Effort Involving in Particular
the Spine
• An Insufficient Rest Period For the Body
• Excessive lifting, Lowering or Carrying
Distances
• A Rate of Work Imposed by a Pocess
Which Cannot be Altered by the
Employee
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23. INDIVIDUAL RISK FACTORS
The Employee Might Be At Risk If They Are:
• Physically Unable to Carry Out the Task in
Question
• Wearing Unsuitable Clothing, Footwear or
Other Protective Items
• Does Not Have Adequate or Appropriate
Experience or Training
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24. STRUCTURE OF THE BACK
• Bones
• Joints
• Spine
• Vertebrae
• Discs
• Ligaments
• Muscles
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25. THE SPINE
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26. BONES AND JOINTS
Function of Bones
• Protection
• Movement
• Shape
• Support
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27. MUSCLES AND THEIR FUNCTION
Tendons
• Connects Muscles to Bone
Ligaments
• Attaches Bones to One Another
Muscles
• Postural: High Endurance and Slow
Acting
• Action: Low Endurance and Fast Acting
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28. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BEND
OUR BACK
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29. DISC
ANATOMY
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Nucleus Pulposus
Annulus
Fibrosus

30. VERTEBRAE
• Divided into Two Parts
• The Body
• The Arch
• Increase in Diameter as
You Move Down the Spine
• Do You Know Why?
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31. SPINE
CONDITIONS
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32. HERNIATED
DISC
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33. POSTURE
• Good Posture Helps Maintain Your
Natural Body/Spinal Curves
• Your Spine is Healthy and Strong
When you Adopt Good Posture
• Poor Posture Increases the Strain on
Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons and
Can Cause Pain
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34. FITNESS AND FLEXIBILITY
• Flexibility:
• Range of Movement Within a Joint
• Strength:
• Muscle Power - Which Can be Developed and Improved
• Endurance:
• Ability of the Heart and Lungs to Work Beyond their Normal
Rate and Recover Faster
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35. FLEXIBILITY
Better Range of Movement Enables
• A Safer Lifting Position
• Improves Everyday Abilities
• Reduses the Risk of Injury
• Helps With Posture
• Helps With Balance
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36. TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES
• Adequate Safety and Health
Training
• Individual Risk Factors
• Particularly Sensitive Risk Groups
• Repeated Periodically and When
Appropriate
• Information Applicable to Tasks
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37. KEY POINTS FOR SAFE LIFTING
1. Assess the Task, the Area and the Load
2. Broad Stable Base
3. Bend at the Knees
4. Back Straight (Not Necessarily Vertical)
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38. KEY POINTS FOR SAFE LIFTING
5. Firm Grip
6. Arms Close to Trunk
7. Weight Close to Centre of Gravity
8. Use Feet to Change Direction
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39. LIFTS TO BE PERFORMED
• Ground to Ground
• Bench to Bench
• To and From a Height
• Pushing and Pulling
• Team Lift
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