This document provides information on manual handling and ergonomics. It begins with definitions of manual handling and discusses why manual handling training is important. It reviews Irish health and safety legislation as well as employers' and employees' responsibilities. Guidelines for safe manual handling are presented, including avoiding hazardous postures and assessing tasks using the T.I.L.E. method. The benefits of ergonomics including decreased injury risk and increased comfort and productivity are highlighted.

1. Manual Handling of
Loads
Frank Keenan,
EHS Manager,
PPI Adhesive Products Ltd.
20/07/09 1

2. WHAT IS MANUAL HANDLING ?
Manual Handling is the transporting or supporting of a load
by one or more people and includes
And which by means of its characteristics or of unfavourable
20/07/09
ergonomic conditions, involves risk, particularly of back
2

3. Manual Handling-
a Life Tool
 Why Manual Handling
courses?
 Legislation
 The skeleton
 How injuries occur
 Flexibility
 Ergonomics
 Principles of lifting
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4. WHY ATTEND THIS TRAINING DAY ?
To prevent back injury & its consequences
 Pain & decreased mobility
 Affects hobbies, family & social life
 Financial consequences if unable to work
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5. STATISTICS
 Accident statistics
 >30% in the Western
world
 80-90% will suffer back
pain
 Build up over time
 Early return to work key
to recovery
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6. Irish Legislation
 SHWW Act (1989)
 SHWW (General Applications)
Regulations (1993)
 SHWW (Pregnant Employees
etc.) Regulations (2000)
 SHWW Act (2005)
 SHWW (General Applications)
Regulations (2007)
20/07/09 6

7. Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
Act (2005)
 Replaces 1989 Act
 Defines “reasonably practicable”
 Extends employers responsibility to
contractors etc.
 Allows for issues such as intoxicants
and other psychosocial issues to be
dealt with
 More detailed Safety Statement
based on Risk Assessment
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8. Employer’s Responsibilities
 Provide a safe place to work
 Safe equipment/ safe systems
 PPE
 Safety devices
 Training and Information
 Supervision
 Emergency Plans
 Competent person to examine H&S
issues
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9. Employee’s Responsibilities
 Must take reasonable care of own
safety and others that may be
affected by their activities
 To cooperate with management to
comply with the law
 To use PPE provided for their own
safety
 Not to misuse/interfere with
equipment
 Report defects to the employer
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10. General Applications Regulations
(2007)
 Extended responsibilities
of all parties.
 Definition of “Director”.
 Covers areas such as
VDU’s, PPE, workplace
equipment, electricity,
notification of accidents/
dangerous occurrences.
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11. MANUAL HANDLING REGULATIONS
2007 The employer must ……….
 Avoid Manual Handling (Organisational or Mechanical Means)
 If Manual Handling cannot be avoided carry out risk assessment
T.I.L.E.
 If Manual Handling cannot be avoided take organisational
measures, use appropriate means or give employee means to
reduce the risk involved with manual handling
 Protect particularly sensitive risk groups (see next slide)
 Where tasks are entrusted to an employee, take their capabilities
into account.
 Provide training & information (Weight & C.O.G. of load)
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12. SENSITIVE RISK GROUPS
 Children & Young Persons
 Pregnant, Post Natal & Breast Feeding
Women
 Night Work & Shift Work
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13. SCHEDULE 3
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOAD
Too heavy/large
Un weildy/difficult to grasp
Unstable/contents likely to shift
Stooping/twisting
Contours/consistency esp. in collision
WORKING ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACTIVITY
PHYSICAL EFFORT REQUIRED
Not enough Room (vertically) Over frequent/prolonged Physical
Too strenuous
Unable to handle loads at safe height effort of the spine
Twisting movement of trunk
Floor uneven/variations in levels Insufficient rest/recovery of the body
Sudden movement of the load
Floor or footrest unstable Excessive lifting, lowering, carrying
Made with body in unstable posture
Temperature, Humidity, Ventilation Distances
INDIVIDUAL RISK FACTORS
Employee
Physically unsuited to carry out task
Wearing unsuitable clothing, footwear
Does not have adequate/appropriate
20/07/09 Knowledge or training 13

14. PROTECTION OF PREGNANT,
POST NATAL & BREAST FEEDING
EMPLOYEES 2007
Applies to women The employer
MUST……
WHO ……….
 Carry out a risk assessment
 Are Pregnant (Schedule 8)
&
 Have recently given  If necessary ↓ risk by……
 Changing work conditions /
birth (14 weeks) working hours
 Are breastfeeding  Alternative work
 H & S leave
(26 weeks)
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15. Control of Manual Handling
tasks
 Where there is a risk of
injury- avoid manual handling
 If it is unavoidable, a risk
assessment must be done
 Training and information must
be provided to employees,
who must accept this
 Competent person to examine
H&S issues
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16. Guideline weights for Manual
Handling
Guideline weights
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17. Effects on the
Guideline weights
 Twisting during lifting operation reduces weights
by:
 10 % twisting through 45o
 20% twisting through 90o
 Frequency of operation also reduces guideline
weights:
 30% for 1/ 2 times per minute
 50% for 5/ 8 times per minute
 80% for >12 times per minute
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18. Points to note:
 Everybody's
responsibility
 Legislation being
updated regularly
 More awareness of
your safety
20/07/09 18

19. STRUCTURE OF
THE SPINE
20/07/09 19

20. OBJECTIVES
Skeletal system (Bones & joints of
spinal column)
 Discs
 Soft tissue
(muscles & ligaments)
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21. The musculoskeletal
system
 206 bones in an adult
 Divided into 2 groups
 3 major tasks
 4 principle types of bone
 3 types of joints
 >600 muscles- largest:
quadriceps
20/07/09 21

22. The Spine
 33 bones divided into 5
regions
 Upper 24 separated by
disks- allowing various
degrees of movement
 S- shaped
20/07/09 22

23. POSTURES TO BE AVOIDED
(Where, why & how to avoid these postures)
20/07/09 23

24. The Vertebrae
20/07/09 24

25. The Vertebral Functional
Unit
 Each vertebra consists
of:

Pedicles
 Transverse processes
 Facet joints
 Posterior superior
spine
 Spinal canal
20/07/09 25

26. The Facet Joint
 Restricts twisting
movement of the
lumbar region of
the spine
 Allows forward and
backward bending
of the spine
20/07/09 26

27. The Lumbar Disc
 2 separate parts
 Annulus
 Nucleus
 Functions:
 Allows movement
 Cushions shock
 Separates bones
 Allows nerves to
exit
20/07/09 27

28. SOFT TISSUE: LIGAMENTS
 Taut bands of
fibrous tissue
 Flexible but not
elastic (Avoid over-stretching)
 Poor blood supply
(Heal very slowly)
20/07/09 28

29. The muscles
 Muscles in the back-
attached to T. Processes .
 Shortens by contraction-
moves joints.
 Only pull- cannot push.
 Strongest in mid range.
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30. SOFT TISSUE: MUSCLE
MUSCLES WORK
DYNAMICLY & STATICALLY
X
20/07/09 30

31. HOW THE SPINE IS INJURED
20/07/09 31

32. OBJECTIVES
 Disc: degeneration,
prolapse
 Soft tissue:
muscle,tendon,
ligaments, joint capsule
 Bony injury: arthritis,
fracture of the arch or
end plate
20/07/09 32

33. DISC DEGENERATION
 Natural Ageing Process
 Begins @ age 30
 Disc Looses its Water
Content
 Accelerated by poor
posture & lifting
techniques
20/07/09 33

34. RESULTS OF DISC
DEGENERATI0N
Slack ligaments Arthritis
Slipped disc
20/07/09 34

35. SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
 Overstretched
 Muscles are torn when cold
 Ligaments are torn because they are not elastic
 May become slack due to disc degeneration
 Overloaded
 Muscles are torn if load is too heavy
AND IF
 Muscles do not have enough time to
recover (repetitive work)
20/07/09 35

36. Prolapsed Disc (“Slipped
Disc”)
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37. STOOPING V’S STRAIGHT LIFT
X 
20/07/09 37

38. AVOID STOOPING AND
TWISTING
X X
STOOPING TWISTING
20/07/09 38

39. BONE INJURY
 The partly movable
joints:
 Facet joint (Arthritis
due to wear and tear)
 Sacro iliac joint
20/07/09 39

40. WHAT IS TO BE LEARNT
 As we do not always initially feel pain when we
cause damage to our spine we may think all is
o.k.
 But
Be warned!!!
Injuries can build up over time. Bad postures and
bad handling techniques may cause problems
later on in life.
20/07/09 40

41. FITNESS FOR WORK
20/07/09 41

42. OBJECTIVES
 What is fitness?
 Muscles relevant to manual handling
 Safety when exercising
 Benefits of fitness
 Stretch break, How to use large leg muscles
for manual handling (weight transference/
ankle, knee & hip movements)
20/07/09 42

43. WHAT IS FITNESS
“Ability to do ones daily work with
enough energy left over”
 Strength
 Aerobic (Heart & lungs)
 Flexibility
 Endurance
20/07/09 43

44. RELEVANT MUSCLE GROUPS
 FLEXIBILITY
 Calves
 Hamstrings
 STRENGTH:
 Quadriceps (Thighs)
 Abdominals (Stomach
20/07/09 44

45. ELEMENTS OF SAFE STRETCH
 Warm up/cool down
 Avoid sudden jerky movements
 Stretch to point of slight
discomfort
 Hold stretch for 30 seconds x 3
times
 Stretch for minimum of 6 weeks to
restore flexibility
20/07/09 45

46. BENIFITS OF FITNESS
 More stamina and energy
 Decreased risk of injury
 Improved mental alertness
 Improved sense of well-being
 May live longer!!! If not, you’ll
definitely….
 ‘Get more out of life !!!!!’.
20/07/09 46

47. ERGONOMICS
AT
20/07/09
WORK 47

48. OBJECTIVES
 Definition of Ergonomics
 Manual Handling Assessment
 Benefit of Ergonomics
20/07/09 48

49. Definition
 Ergonomics aims to “fit the job, environment
and equipment to the person” instead of making
the person fit the above (e.g. car, sports
equipment, kitchen design.
 This will ensure that work is done in a way that
minimises physical and mental effort while
maximising efficiency.
20/07/09 49

50. RISK FACTORS
Where, why & how to avoid at work?
X
STOOPING TWISTING
LOADS
20/07/09 AWAY FROM BODY 50
OVER REACHING

51. YOU MUST ASSESS YOUR JOB TO SEE IF
YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING IT SAFELY
T task
I individual
L load
20/07/09 51

52. T.I.L.E.
TASK
Loads away from the body
Twisting/stooping
Reaching upwards
Long carrying distances
Strenuous effort
Large vertical movements
LOAD
Heavy ENVIRONMENT
INDIVIDUAL Bulky/unweildy Poor floors
Require unusual capabilities
Hazard to those with health problems Difficult to grasp Variations in levels
Hazard to those who are pregnant Unsteady/unpredictable Constraints on postures
Require special information/training Harmful – Lighting conditions
Require PPE
Co-operative Strong air movements
Attachments Hot, cold humid conditions
Walking aids
20/07/09 52

53. SOLUTIONS
SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS LONG TERM SOLUTIONS
 Extra staff  Relocate Kitchen into main
 Improve lighting Hospital
 Fill Potholes
 Fix Wheels  Contract out catering to
outside company
 Training
 Put ramp at kerb
 Reflective clothing
20/07/09 53

54. BENEFITS OF ERGONOMICS
I f you assess your job, you will be…
 Better able to recognise potentially harmful tasks
 Safer – decreased risk of injury
 More comfortable – more energy, less stress
 More efficient & productive
20/07/09 54

55. PRINCPLES OF
SAFER
MANUAL
20/07/09
HANDLING 55

56. OBJECTIVES
 The thought process involved before loads
are moved
 Principles of manual handling
 Team handling
20/07/09 56

57. BEFORE ANY HANDLING TASK
“Think before you begin” AVOID
 Must you do the task at all?

 If you must do the task, Assess – T.I.L.E
 Can the task be made more manageable by:
Spliting the load
Getting help from other staff member
Using equipment 
20/07/09 57

58. The 8 Principles of
Lifting
 Assess the task (area & load)-
TILE
 Bend the knees
 Ensure broad stable base
 Back straight (Neutral position &
Avoid combined bending & twisting)
 Firm grip with palm of hand
 Arms in line with trunk
 Weight close to centre of
gravity
 Turn feet in direction of
movement
20/07/09 58

59. SPINAL BIOMECHANICS
 X X
20/07/09 59

60. 5 Types of basic lift
 To and from the
floor
 To and from a
bench
 To and from a
height
 Pushing
 Pulling
20/07/09 60

61. TEAM HANDLING
 Be aware of limitations of team handling
 Work with people of similar height
 Appoint a leader
 Plan the manoeuvre
 Agree a command, to ensure a smooth co-
co-ordinated movement
(Ready, Steady lift.. pull…lower etc.)
20/07/09 61

62. Conclusion
 This training course must
be used outside work- LIFE
TOOL
 Always follow the 8
Principles wherever you are
(whenever possible)
 Remember- you only have
one back- take care of it
and it will “back” you up
for life!
20/07/09 62

63. The Radon Problem
U-238
4.5 billion yr
U-234
250,000 yr
Pa-234
1.2 min
Th-234 Th-230
24 days 77,000 yr
Ra-226
1,600 yr
Rn-222
3.8 days
Po-218 Po-214 Po-210
3.05 min 164 microsec 138 days
Bi-214 Bi-210
19.7 min 5.0 days
Pb-214 Pb-210 Pb-206 Stable
26.8 min 22 yr
20/07/09 63

64. Use of intoxicants
 Companies moving
towards manditory
testing/random testing.
 Can have a very serious
impact on work H&S.
 Where possible let your
employer know if on
meds that affect work.
20/07/09 64

65. Noise
 Reduction in exposure levels
 Obligations if levels are between
80 and 85 dB A and above 85
dB A
 If levels vary daily then a
weekly average can be used
 Preventative audiometric testing
20/07/09 65

66. Chemical Agents
 Use of PPE when using
chemicals
 Personal hygeine is
important
 Familiarise yourself with the
material MSDS
 Use proper soap etc to claen
affected areas NOT solvents
20/07/09 66

67. Reviewing MSDS’s
 Check for associated
hazards (Sec. 3)
 PPE to be used (Sec. 8)
 Toxicological information
(Sec. 11)
 Other areas of interest
(Sec. 4, 5 & 7)
 New material = new
MSDS
20/07/09 67

68. Dignity at Work
 People need no longer feel
threatened by other
employees or managers
 Physical and sexual
harassment dealt with
through H&S Legs and
Regs.
20/07/09 68