What Is Manual Handling? – On Any Maintenance Or Construction Site, Manual Handling Is Very Common. It Is Done To Lift Any Material And Move It From One Place To Another. The Worker’s Risk Of Injury And Loss Increases If Manual Handling Is Performed Improperly. Most Of The Workers Who Are Mostly Involved In Manual Handling Work Are Most At Risk And Loss Due To It. That’s Why It’s So Important To Know How To Perform Manual Handling Correctly.
We Often Do Manual Handling In Our Homes Too, We Have To Lift Household Items And Take Them From One Place To Another, So We Are Surrounded By Dangers Related To It Even In Our Homes. In This Article, I Am Going To Tell You Complete Information About How Does Manual Handling Work?
Manual Handling Typically Entails Using The Hands To Lift, Lower, Push, Pull, Hold, Carry, And Hold Objects. Moving Boxes Or Other Items From Trucks Or Other Vehicles, Lifting Laundry Bags Or Equipment Trays, Or Moving Any Object From One Location To Another Are All Examples. Loading Paper In The Copier, Lifting, Pulling, Pushing And Moving Any Item On The Work Site With Your Hands Without The Help Of Any Other Equipment Is Called Manual Handling. If It Is Not Done Properly, The Worker May Suffer Serious Injuries And Health Related Problems.
Manual Handling Hazards?
Manual Handling And Moving Materials May Expose Workers To Physical Conditions Such As Excessive Force, Awkward Body Postures, And Repetitive Movements, Which May Result In Injury. Injuries From Manual Handling And Moving Materials Can Range From Cuts, Bruises, And Muscle Aches To More Serious Conditions Such As Lower Back Pain; Shoulder Disorders; Or Hip And Knee Damage.
Based On Available Statistics, About Half Of All Low Back Injuries Are Related To Improper Lifting, About 10% Are Associated With Pushing And Pulling Activities And Another 6% Occur While Holding, Moving, Throwing Or Carrying Materials. A Person’s Ability To Function May Vary Due To Differences In Age, Physical Condition, Strength, Gender, Height And Other Factors. Often The Specific Cause Of A Person’s Chronic Musculoskeletal Problem Is Unknown. This Type Of Pain Does Not Occur Immediately But Tends To Worsen Over Time.
Manual Handling Injury Types?
Among The Many Types Of Injuries That Can Result From Improper Manual Handling Are:
- Sprain & Strain – Sprain And Strain In The Body
- Contusion – Being Crushed
- Lacerations – Wounds On A Body Part
- Fractures – Bone Breaks
- Back Injuries – Pain Or Injury In The Back Slipped Discs, Tears And Hernias
- Tendons And Ligaments That Have Been Torn
Causes Of Injury – Reasons
The Injury Which I Have Told You About May Have The Following Reasons:-
- Bad Postures Include Jerking, Twisting, And Sudden Movements.
- Heavy Loads Are Those That Exceed A Vehicle’s Capacity.
- Rough Surfaces – Sharp, Jagged Edges, Splinters, Pricking Objects
- Lack Of Knowledge – Lack Of Knowledge About The Load
- Obstructed Vision, Such As Difficulty Seeing When Carrying Heavy Objects Or Walking Backwards.
How To Do Manual Handling?
You Must Have Understood What Is Manual Handling And Its Disadvantages And Dangers. Now I Will Tell You How To Do Manual Handling And What Is The Correct Way Of Doing Manual Handling. Before Doing Any Load Manually Handling, It Is Necessary To Do The Following:-
- Utilize Mechanical Lifting Equipment, Such As Cranes, Forklifts, Etc., If At All Possible, And Try To Eliminate The Need For Manual Handling Whenever Possible.
- Evaluate Manual Handling Tasks To Identify And Reduce Risks Associated With Manual Handling
- The Proper Method Of Manual Handling Should Be Taught Through Appropriate Training.
- Consideration Should Be Given To Limiting The Weight That Can Be Lifted Manually, A Person Can Lift A Maximum Of 25 KG Only.
Manual Handling Techniques – The Right Way
Before Lifting Any Load With Your Hands, It Is Important To Keep Many Things In Mind. The Following Is A List Of These Things. Read Them Carefully:-How To Do Manual Handling
1. Lifting Capacity
In Order To Lift Any Weight Without Difficulty, We Must Take Into Consideration Our Body Type, Age, Training, And Technique.
2. Nature Of The Load
After That Check The Load To Be Lifted, Such As Its Weight, Width, Length, Round, Square, Slippery, Sharp, Center Of Gravity Of The Load And The Space And Distance To Lift And Carry It Etc. So That There Is No Problem In Lifting It. If The Load Is Too Heavy Then Take Help From Others Or Use A Machine.
3. Correct Lifting Method
Now Comes The Turn To What Is The Correct Way Of Lifting The Load? Most People Put Pressure On Their Back To Lift Any Item, Which Can Cause Back Pain. You Cannot Do This At All; You Must Use The Following Approach:
- First Of All Keep The Position Of Your Feet Correct Keep Knees Flexible
- Maintain A Straight Back.
- Keep Both Hands Close To The Body And Move Closer To The Load
- Get A Firm Grip On The Load And Hold It Firmly Keep Your Head Up And Chin Tucked In.
- Lift The Load Slowly Using Body Weight.
- Lift The Weight With Your Leg Muscles While Keeping Your Back Straight.
- Follow The Same Method To Place The Load Back, Keeping Your Back Straight, Bend Your Legs And Place The Load.
Conclusion
You Should Have All The Information You Need About Manual Handling, Its Risks, And The Right Way To Do It From This Article. Hope You Have Understood It. If You Have Any Comment Or Question, You Can Ask Us In The Comment Box. What Is Manual Handling? How To Do Manual Handling, Causes Of Injury.
