This one-day manual handling course covers various topics through sessions: 1) An introduction to manual handling, its prevalence in workplaces, and impacts of poor handling. 2) Spinal awareness, risk factors for back pain like force, posture, and individual factors. 3) Health and safety legislation regarding employer and employee duties. 4) Dynamic risk assessment using the TILE method (Task, Individual, Load, Environment). 5) Efficient movement principles and practical sessions on various handling techniques.

1. Manual Handling
One Day Course

2. Welcome
Course Introduction
Course Overview
1. Introduction to Manual Handling
2. Spinal Awareness, Risk Factors for Back
Pain and Injuries
3. Health and Safety Legislation
4. Dynamic Assessment
5. Efficient Movement Principles and
Practical Workshop

3. Introduction to
Manual Handling
Session 1
Introduction to Manual Handling

4. Learning Outcomes
• State examples of manual handling in the
workplace.
• Identify the impact of poor manual handling
on the business and on a worker’s personal
life.

5. Introduction to
Manual Handling
Definition of Manual Handling
“any transporting or supporting of a load
(including the lifting, putting down, pushing,
pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand
or by bodily force”

6. Introduction to
Manual Handling
A third of all workplace injuries which include
work related Musculoskeletal Disorders
(MSDs) such as upper and lower limb
pain/disorders, joint and repetitive strain
injuries are caused by manual handling.

7. Introduction to
Manual Handling
Increasing prevalence of back pain in 16-24
year olds
Source 2013 - www.backcare.org.uk

8. Introduction to
Manual Handling

9. Manual Handling in the
Workplace
Delegate Exercise
List the manual handling you carry out in
your workplace.

10. What happens if things go wrong
Delegate Exercise
List the potential Impact to the business if
things go wrong.

11. What happens if things go wrong
Delegate Exercise
List the potential Impact to a worker’s
personal life if things go wrong.

12. Spinal Awareness
Risk Factors for Back Pain and Injuries
Session 2
Spinal Awareness
Risk Factors for Back Pain and
Injuries

13. Learning Outcomes
• Identify components of the spine.
• Describe how the spine can become injured.
• Identify work related risk factors for back
pain.
• Recognise individual risk factors for back
pain.

14. Cervical x 7
Thoracic x 12
Lumbar x 5
Sacrum x 5 (Fused)
Coccyx x 4 (Fused)
Spinal Overview

15. Facet Joints
Facet joints joins
each pair of
vertebra like
hinges.

16. Muscles of the Spine
16

17. Ligaments of the Spine
• Link adjacent vertebra.
• Run the length of spine
from the base of skull to
the upper sacrum.
• They resist movement
particularly flexion.

18. The Intervertebral Disc

19. Prolapsed Disc

20. Back Pain
Most back pain occurs in the lower back.

21. Types of Lower Back Pain
The types and causes of lower back pain are
numerous but roughly fall into either
• Sudden (traumatic)
• Sustained overstress injuries

22. Risk Factors for Back Pain
and Injury
• Physical
• Psychological
• Personal

23. Physical Risk Factors
Force
Excessive force can lead to fatigue and to
injury, either through a single-event strain
injury or through the cumulative effect.

24. Physical Risk Factors
Repetition
Same muscle groups used over and over
again during the working day.

25. Physical Risk Factors
Posture
• It is the position our bodies adopt in
response to the effects of gravity.
• It is the way we hold ourselves, in sitting,
standing or even lying down.

26. Physical Risk Factors
Awkward Posture
Awkward posture is where a part of the body
(e.g. a spinal joint) is used well beyond its
neutral position.

27. Physical Risk Factors

28. Physical Risk Factors

29. Physical Risk Factors

30. Physical Risk Factors

31. Physical Risk Factors

32. Physical Risk Factors

33. Delegate Exercise
Good Seated Posture

34. Discs

35. Delegate Exercise
Good Standing Posture
1. Bear your weight primarily on the balls of your
feet.
2. Keep your knees slightly bent.
3. Keep your feet about shoulder-width apart.
4. Let your arms hang naturally down the sides of the
body.
5. Stand straight and tall with your shoulders pulled
backward.
6. Tuck your abdomen in.
7. Keep your head level - earlobes should be in line
with your shoulders. (Do not push your head
forward, backward, or sideways to the side.)

36. Good Driving Posture
• Keep your back against the seat and head rest.
• Adjust your seat to maintain a proper distance from
the pedals and steering wheel.
• Adjust the head rest so the middle of your head
rests against it.
• Tilt the head rest, as needed, to maintain a distance
of no more than four inches (10cm) between the
back of your head and the head rest.

37. Good Driving Posture

38. Physical Risk Factors
Static Posture/ Loading
Static posture is when a part of the body is
held in a particular position for extended
periods of time.

39. Physical Risk Factors
• Posture, force and repetition are
interlinked.
• When a task involves all of these risk
factors, there is a greater risk of injury.

40. Key Learning Points
• Heavy repetitive lifting may cause damage
to muscles, ligaments and discs.
• Poor posture may cause disc damage and
strain soft tissues
• Asymmetric lifting damages facet joints.
• A sudden trauma to the spine may cause
muscle damage.

41. Psychosocial Risk Factors
Psychosocial risk factors are things that may
affect workers’ psychological response to
their work.

42. Psychosocial Risk Factors
• Workers are unable to make full use of their
skills.
• Workers, as a rule, are not involved in
making decisions that affect them.
• Workers are expected to only carry out
repetitive, monotonous tasks.

43. Psychosocial Risk Factors
• Work that is machine or system paced (and
may be monitored inappropriately).
• Work demands are perceived as excessive.

44. Psychosocial Risk Factors
Effects of psychosocial factors may be linked
to musculoskeletal disorders via stress-
related processes such as hormones.

45. Personal Risk Factors
• Age
• Low level of fitness
• Previous injury
• Over-weight

46. Health and Safety Legislation
Session 3
Health and Safety Legislation

47. Learning Outcomes
• State the employer’s duties in relation to
manual handling.
• State the employee’s duties in relation to
manual handling.

48. Employer’s Duties
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• Avoid the need for manual handling jobs which
involve a risk of injury.
• Assess the risks arising from manual handling
tasks that can not be avoided.
• Reduce the risk of injury.
• Inform employees of:
 the weight of each load.
 the heaviest side of any load whose centre of gravity
is off centre.

49. Employee’s Duties
HASAWA 1974, MHSWR 1999 & MHOR 1992
• To take reasonable care for themselves and
others
• To comply with the training provided by
their employer
• To comply with safe systems laid out by
their employer
• Report any shortcomings in the employers
protection arrangements

50. Dynamic Assessment
Session 4
Dynamic Assessment

51. Learning Outcomes
• Be able to conduct a dynamic assessment
based on TILE

52. Dynamic Risk Assessment
On the spot assessment which involves the
ergonomic approach and the use of ‘TILE’.
Task
Individual
Load
Environment
52

53. Dynamic Risk Assessment
Task
Twisting - increases stress on the spine
Stooping - increases the stress due to weight
of the body being added to weight of the load
Reaching upwards - increases stress on arms
and the back

54. Dynamic Risk Assessment
Task
Long carrying distances - physically demanding
and may require a change of hold
Load held away from the trunk - the further the
load is held from the body the greater the spinal
stress
Repetition - muscles become fatigued and a
corresponding reduction in muscular efficiency
will occur

55. Pre-transfer Assessment /
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Individual
Unusual capability – in general men have
greater capability to undertake manual
handling
Special information/training - risk of injury
increased if the employee has not had
adequate training in recognising unusual
characteristics
Physical capability - physical capability
declines with age

56. Pre-Transfer Assessment /
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Load
Weight - heavy loads potentially increase risk
of damage to the musculoskeletal system
Does it look difficult to grasp? - handling will
call for additional grip strength which is tiring
and potentially involve changes to posture
and risk of dropping the load
Condition - hot/cold or sharp edges - risk of
direct injury, poor posture, impairment of grip

57. Pre-Transfer Assessment /
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Load
Bulky and unwieldy - prevents the handler
getting close to the load and results in poor
posture, vision obscured, difficult to control
and not balanced
Stability - instability causes additional spinal
stresses and sudden movement which the
handler is not prepared for

58. Pre-Transfer Assessment /
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Environment
Cramped - causes poor posture
Low surfaces - causes stooping
Floor condition – poor conditions cause
slips, trips and steps/slopes make handling
more difficult
Hot/humid/cold - can cause fatigue,
perspiration on hands reducing grip

59. Delegate Exercise
Identify factors relating to the task and load
from the video.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/Msd/mac/carryvid1.htm

60. Efficient Movement Principles
and Practical Work
Session 5
Efficient Movement Principles
Practical Work

61. Learning Outcomes
• Be able to demonstrate the application of
efficient movement principles and conduct
a dynamic assessment for:
 Lifting and lowering symmetrical objects
 Awkward loads
 Pushing and pulling
 Team Handling

62. Efficient Movement Principles
Technique
• It may be the ‘least worst’
• Not transferable in all
cases
• May be appropriate to a
specific risk assessment
• Specific to that operation
• Beware of individual
differences
• Not person centred
Principles
• Transferable to different
situations
• Focus on reducing risks
• Individual ownership of
knowledge
• Develops a problem
solving approach
• Person centred

63. Efficient Movement Principles
• Dynamic stable base
• Flexed knees and hips
• Natural curves
• Close to load
• Secure hold
• Use of head

64. Symmetrical Load Handling
Practical

65. Awkward and Non-Routine
Load Handling
Research recognises that it is not always
possible to apply the efficient movement
principles and guidance suggests:
• Plan the task
• Minimise the horizontal distance of the
object from the trunk
• Get a secure hold

66. Awkward and Non-Routine
Load Handling - Practical

67. Pushing and Pulling
• Pulling and pushing of loads occurs with
manual movements
• Force is exerted in the horizontal plane via a
limb or other part of the body

68. Pushing and Pulling
Risk Factors for Pushing and Pulling
• Pushing and pulling over long distances
• Insufficient rest/recovery time
• Obstacles on the route
• Repetition
• Poor handle position
• Excessive and unstable load
• Unstable posture

69. Pushing and Pulling

70. Pre-User Equipment Checks
70
Problems to look for when making an assessment
• Correct device for the job?
• Well maintained?
• Suitable wheels?
• Free running wheels?
• Suitable handle height? (between waist and
shoulders)
• Comfortable handle grips?
• Effective brakes?

71. Pushing and Pulling Loads
Practical

72. Team Handling
Handling by two or more people may achieve a lifting
operation or task that is beyond the capability of one
person and/or reduce the risk of injury to a single
handler

73. Team Handling
• Handlers should have adequate access to the load
• Load should provide sufficient handholds

74. Team Handling
Essential Components:
Communication
Co-operation
Co-ordination

75. Team Handling
Practical

76. THANK YOU