This document provides guidance on manual handling awareness and physical care. It discusses risks associated with falling objects, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling loads. It emphasizes proper techniques like keeping the back straight, lifting with legs, getting close to loads, and using mechanical aids when possible. The document also covers causes of back pain and what to do if one experiences pain. Overall, it stresses taking precautions and planning tasks to prevent injuries from manual labor.

1. 1
Physical CarePhysical Care
Welcome
MANUAL HANDLING AWARENESS
to
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© A. Groves & Océ (UK) Ltd

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You are an animalYou are an animal
You areYou are
an animal !an animal !

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You are an animalYou are an animal
Humans do
unnatural acts

4. 4
You are an animalYou are an animal
Humans do
unnatural acts
so S-t-r-e-t-c-h
in and out of bed

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You are an animalYou are an animal
Humans do
unnatural acts
S-t-r-e-t-c-h
in and out of bed
Warm-up
before every
action

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Physical CarePhysical Care
 Falling Objects
 Lifting and Carrying
 Pushing and Pulling
 Back Pain

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Falling ObjectsFalling Objects
Falling ObjectsFalling Objects

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Falling ObjectsFalling Objects
 No temporary piles
 Stack items securely, don’t overload
 Don’t stack different things on top of
each other

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Falling ObjectsFalling Objects
 No temporary piles
 Stack items securely, don’t overload
 Don’t stack different things on top of
each other
 Shut cupboards
 Stand on steps, never on a swivel chair.

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Falling objectsFalling objects
 If you need safety shoes,
then always wear them!

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LiftingLifting
LiftingLifting

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LiftingLifting
Not or
Manual handling is not just about special activities or super-fitness.
It applies to every time that you lift anything, however common-
place or seemingly innocuous.

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LiftingLifting
Not or
Minimise manual handling
 consider alternative layout or system of work
 use mechanical aids
 get assistance for heavy or awkward loads.

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LiftingLifting
 Split the load into several if possible

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LiftingLifting
 Split the load into several if possible
 Assess the weight, shape,
freedom to move,
centre of gravity, hand holds.
 Use leverage if possible

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LiftingLifting
 Split the load into several if possible
 Assess the weight, shape,
freedom to move,
centre of gravity, hand holds.
 Use leverage if possible
Nº wires?
Monitor screen
is the heavy end

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You have no backbone!You have no backbone!
The basic design of your body dates from when
humans were four-legged animals.

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You have no backbone!You have no backbone!
Your arms & shoulders, and your legs & hips
form two posts of solid bone.
Your spine is a flexible link between the two,
but which carries little weight.

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You have no backbone!You have no backbone!
Think of it like a washing line, with your
vertebrae as clothes-pegs hanging from it.
They are sufficient to hang one garment only
but not for hanging a heavy weight or for a
sudden jerk.

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Fishermen’s TalesFishermen’s Tales
See how much the rod bends when even a
small fish is lifted out of the water. Holding the
rod takes much greater effort that you need to
lift the weight of the fish.
The forces on the bottom of your spine are
similar when you lift a load by bending over.

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Gone fishingGone fishing
If the fish was as large as they
would have you believe, they
certainly couldn’t have lifted it!

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Gone fishingGone fishing

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What is a slipped disc?What is a slipped disc?
Why do old people shrink?

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What is a slipped disc?What is a slipped disc?
The ‘disc’ between each vertebrae is a sack
filled with a shock-absorbing jelly.
A ‘slipped’ disc is when it has
been squeezed out of position
or actually ruptured.
The result is that the bones
grind painfully on each other
whenever you move your back.

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What is a slipped disc?What is a slipped disc?
Once this has
happened, it
may never
return to
normal.
Permanent
pain may result

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PregnantPregnant menmen
The stress on your back is caused by the
weight and the leverage of everything you lift -
including your own body!

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PregnantPregnant menmen
 beer bellies are
bad for backs
 big bottoms are better
- they are attached to your hips, not your back
(and they counterbalance anything you lift!)
If you are a stone overweight,
that is worse that holding a full 5
litre bottle to your stomach all
day, every day!

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Learn to love your loadLearn to love your load
 Hold it close to you.
 Wear appropriate
clothing
 Wear an overall if the object is
dirty
 Use your chest or
stomach as the 3rd
point
of contact for stability.

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Get a grip!Get a grip!
 No sweat
Sweat is a good lubricant, so
you may lose your grip.
If there isn’t a comfortable and
secure hand-hold, wear gloves
 no sharp edges or splinters
 hold underneath or on a strong place

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LiftingLifting
 Split the load if possible
 Assess the weight, shape, freedom to move,
centre of gravity, hand holds.
 Use leverage if possible
 Get close with feet apart
 Secure grip (gloves?)
 Bend knees, keep back upright
 Never twist your back - do a 3-point turn.
 Move smoothly - don’t jerk.
 Take care when putting down

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LiftingLifting
 Lift properly
Yes
ΝΟ!

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LiftingLifting
 Lift properly
 Avoid stretching
Yes
ΝΟ!

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CarryingCarrying
CarryingCarrying

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CarryingCarrying
 Use a sack barrow or trolley if possible

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CarryingCarrying
 Use a sack barrow or trolley if possible
 Check the route
 Balance the load
(2 buckets are better than one)
 Grasp firmly (wear gloves?)

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CarryingCarrying
 Use a sack barrow or trolley if possible
 Check the route
 Balance the load
(2 buckets are better than one)
 Grasp firmly (wear gloves?)
 See ahead
 Get others to hold doors open
 Keep clear of obstructions
 Put it down securely

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Pushing and pullingPushing and pulling
Pushing andPushing and
pullingpulling

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Pushing and pullingPushing and pulling
 Pushing is usually
better than pulling

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Pushing and pullingPushing and pulling
 Pushing is usually
better than pulling
 See where you are going
 Don’t hunch your shoulders

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Pushing and pullingPushing and pulling
 Pushing is usually
better than pulling
 See where you are going
 Don’t hunch your shoulders
 Be prepared for
a sudden stop

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CastorsCastors
 You cannot pull a copier with 4 castors
180º from its last direction, because the
castors will jam.
 Only when all the castors are pointing
in the right direction can you move it
in the direction which you want it to go.

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CastorsCastors
 You cannot pull a copier with 4 castors
180º from its last direction, because the
castors will jam.
 Only when all the castors are pointing
in the right direction can you move it
in the direction which you want it to go.
 First swing each end of the machine out
to turn the castors to the direction
in which you want to go.
 Be prepared for a sudden stop on
uneven flooring or in hidden dips.
11 22
33

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Push where?Push where?
 Where possible, use your
thighs, hips or bottom
to get something moving.
 Avoid unnecessary bending
over and use of your arms.

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If you do get back painIf you do get back pain
If you do getIf you do get
back painback pain

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If you do get back painIf you do get back pain
 Check there is no spine disease
(very unlikely)

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If you do get back painIf you do get back pain
 Check there is no spine disease
 NOT bed-rest

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If you do get back painIf you do get back pain
 Check there is no spine disease
 NOT bed-rest
 Take pain killers
 Work through it
 Learn from what caused itLearn from what caused it
 Change something about itChange something about it
 Improve your life-style

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Why Accidents HappenWhy Accidents Happen
 DDistraction
 UUnfamiliarity
 TTiredness
 CComplacency
 HHurry
Don’t go ‘Dutch’ with safety!

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P.A.U.S.E.P.A.U.S.E.
P.A.U.S.E.
for thought
 PPlan each task
 AAnalyse what might happen
 UUnexpected - be prepared
 SSlipping, tripping & sprains
 EEntanglement
P.A.U.S.E. for thought ... think safety
A millisecond makes all
the difference

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To concludeTo conclude
 Please think about what you have seen
in this presentation.
 Walk tall
 Shoulders back
 Head held high
 Injuries hurt. Pain isn’t pleasant.
 You have choices about your life.