A recent survey of self-reported work-related injuries for 2001/2002 estimated that there were over a million people with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)in Great Britain caused or aggravated by their work and this resulted in roughly 12.3 million lost working days (HSE 3). Manual handling injuries can occur in any type of work, from building sites to farms, factories and offices, hospitals and laboratories, or while making deliveries. Risk factors for MSDs include heavy manual labor, awkward postures, handling materials manually, and previous injuries.
More than a third of all over-three day injuries for which the enforcing authorities receive reports are the result of manual handling (Manual; Tuc). The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to carry out risk assessment on all activities involving moving loads by either lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, twisting or bending (Health; Manual; Stranks; Tuc). There is a hierarchy of measures an employer must carry out to meet the regulations. These are to avoid the need for hazardous manual handling so far as it is reasonably practical, to assess the risk for injury for such tasks where manual handling cannot be avoided, and to reduce the risk of injury to employees from hazardous manual handling as far as it is reasonably possible (Advice; HSE 5; Manual).
Employees should also take an active role in following the appropriate rules for work laid out for their safety, making proper use of the equipment provided, cooperating with their employer on health and safety matters, letting the employer know if they find hazardous handling activities, and making certain that whatever they do themselves does not put other employees at risk of injury (CSIRO; HSE 5).
Manual handling should be avoided if at all possible (Advice; Health; HSE 6; Stranks). The employee needs to check if something really needs to be moved or if, for instance if something is to b...