Manual handling is an integral part of many jobs across various businesses and organisations in Ireland. Yet despite its prevalence, manual handling is often associated with a significant number of workplace injuries. Understanding common mistakes and learning how to avoid them is crucial for ensuring safety and health in the workplace. Investing in onsite manual handling training can significantly reduce these risks by providing tailored guidance and practical skills.
Use Proper Lifting Techniques
One of the most frequent mistakes in manual handling is using improper lifting techniques. Employees often bend their backs instead of their knees or lift with a rounded back. This can cause severe strain on the lower back, leading to musculoskeletal disorders. To avoid this, it is essential to always bend your knees and keep your back straight when lifting. Utilising the strongest muscles in your legs to lift and keeping the load close to your body helps maintain balance and reduce strain on your back. Onsite manual handling training can teach these techniques effectively, ensuring employees understand and practice them correctly.
Respect Weight Limits
Another common mistake is ignoring weight limits. Overestimating one's ability to lift heavy objects can lead to severe injuries, including hernias, muscle tears, and spinal damage. It is important to be aware of your lifting capacity and not attempt to lift objects that are too heavy. Using mechanical aids like trolleys, hoists, or forklifts can be extremely helpful in lifting and transporting heavy items. When an object is too heavy or awkward to lift alone, asking a colleague for assistance is the safest approach. Onsite manual handling training includes demonstrations and hands-on practice with mechanical aids, reinforcing their use.
Avoid Twisting While Lifting
Twisting your body while lifting is another prevalent error. Twisting can place excessive pressure on the spine, increasing the risk of back injuries, particularly when trying to move objects to the side while carrying them. Instead of twisting, move your feet to face the direction you want to go, and turn your whole body, including your feet, in the direction of movement. This reduces the strain on your spine and helps maintain proper balance. Through onsite manual handling training, employees can learn to incorporate these habits into their daily routines.
Plan Before You Lift
Inadequate planning before lifting is another significant mistake. Failing to assess the route or the load can lead to unexpected hazards and difficulties during the lift. Before lifting, it is crucial to assess the weight, size, and shape of the load. Ensuring the route is clear of obstacles and hazards is also essential. Planning the lift involves thinking about where you will grip the load and how you will move it to its destination safely. Onsite manual handling training emphasises the importance of planning and provides strategies to conduct thorough risk assessments.
Don't Rush the Task
Rushing the task is a common issue, especially in busy workplaces. In an effort to save time, workers may rush the lifting process, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. Speeding through manual handling tasks often leads to poor lifting techniques and insufficient attention to potential hazards. Prioritising safety over speed is key. Taking the time to lift correctly and safely, and paying full attention to the lifting process, ensures proper techniques are followed. Onsite manual handling training can reinforce the value of taking a measured approach to manual tasks.
Wear Appropriate Footwear
Inappropriate footwear can affect balance and stability, increasing the risk of slips, trips, and falls during manual handling tasks. Wearing suitable, non-slip footwear that provides adequate support and protection is crucial. Regularly checking the condition of footwear and replacing worn-out shoes helps maintain safety standards. Onsite manual handling training can include guidance on selecting the right footwear and maintaining it properly.
Provide Adequate Training
Finally, lack of training is another critical factor leading to manual handling mistakes. Many employees may not receive adequate training on proper manual handling techniques. Without proper education, workers are more likely to make mistakes that can lead to injuries. Ensuring all employees receive comprehensive training on manual handling techniques and safety procedures is essential. Conducting regular onsite training sessions keeps employees updated on best practices and new safety guidelines. Promoting a workplace culture where safety is prioritised and employees feel comfortable discussing and reporting potential hazards can significantly improve manual handling practices. Onsite manual handling training provides a convenient and effective way to deliver this critical education directly within the workplace environment.
Conclusion
Manual handling is a common task that, when done incorrectly, can lead to serious injuries. By understanding and avoiding these common mistakes, employees can ensure safer manual handling practices. Providing proper training for staff is a valuable investment for any company or organisation as it offers tailored instruction and practical solutions that enhance safety and efficiency. SafeHands Health & Safety Solutions can help, we are an Irish-owned and operated company that has been providing quality onsite Manual Handling Training, with full certification, for over 20 years. So if it’s time to update your training, give us a call on 01-7979836/0873823223 or email info@safehands.ie and be in SafeHands…
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