Every year in the UK, 300,000 people suffer from back pain as a result of a manual handling injury. These injuries are often to the neck, back or spine and can lead to acute pain, temporary incapacity or even permanent mobility issues.
Whether it’s moving boxes or lifting heavy equipment, you need to know what to do in order to minimise the risk of injury.
Pre-lift Planning
The most important thing to do ahead of lifting heavy equipment is pre-lift planning. You should consider the following before attempting to life the equipment:
- How far do you need to carry the equipment, and is there somewhere you can put it down if required?
- Are there any obstacles in the way?
- Is the equipment an awkward shape?
- Is there a suitable handling aid available?
- If not, can anyone help you carry the equipment?
Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Organisations should carry out detailed risk assessments in order to identify potential hazards and put in place steps to mitigate them, including for manual handling risks.
Some manual handling tasks can’t be predicted ahead of time, but for each piece of heavy equipment that could be handled manually, a risk assessment should be conducted.
Advice and guidance on manual handling risks can be found on the Health and Safety Executive’s website.
Equipment Inspection and Maintenance
Poorly maintained or damaged equipment can create a greater risk when manual handling, which is why it’s so important to inspect it regularly.
For example, a protruding screw or damaged piece of metal can cause physical injury to the handler, while broken handles could cause the equipment to be dropped while carrying.
If a risk is identified during inspection this should be made clear with signage and training to ensure no one attempts to handle the equipment until it’s fixed.
Lifting Equipment and Tools
There are various types of lifting equipment and tools that can be used to support equipment lifting safety.
Forklift Attachments
If a forklift truck isn’t suitable on its own for lifting the equipment, there are a multitude of accessories that can be used to extend the functionality, including clamps, hooks and jibs.
Lifting Hoists
Designed for lifting or lowering heavy loads, a hoist consists of a motorised drum and a chain or rope, although lifting hoists can only transport a load vertically as they’re typically mounted overhead.
Overhead Cranes
Overhead cranes are also mounted, but have a greater range of motion allowing for movement of objects horizontally as well as vertically. Overhead cranes are often used on construction sites to move heavy materials and machinery.
Lifting Jacks and Pallet Trucks
Lifting jacks and pallet trucks are hydraulic equipment that is typically hand operated. The operator will plunge a pump to create pressure and lift the platform, and they can be used to transport pallets or equipment, although these tools might not be suitable for awkwardly shaped loads.
Chain Blocks
Also hand operated, chain blocks are hoists that contain a chain wound around two wheels. Pulling the chain winds the wheels and lifts the load attached to the chain. The relatively simple design makes chain blocks typically more affordable and easier to maintain.
Safe Lifting Techniques
Before lifting heavy equipment, there are some safe lifting practices that you need to be aware of to ensure you can mitigate the risks appropriately.
Planning the Lift
As mentioned above, planning the lift is key to equipment lifting safety.
Plan the route you’re going to take and clear it of any hazards like discarded packaging or other materials that might get in the way and force you to take a longer route than necessary.
Team Coordination
Before attempting the lift alone, ask a colleague to help you or look for equipment that can help you. Only lift heavy equipment manually if it’s firstly safe to do so, but also if there’s no other option.
Proper handling technique
If you are lifting equipment manually, keep the load as close to your waist as possible, with the heaviest side next to your body. Adopt a stable position with your feet and ensure a good hold on the equipment, before lifting with a slight bend of your back, hips and knees, but don’t flex your back any further while lifting. This can happen if your legs begin to straighten before you raise the load.
Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways, especially when your back is bent, and keep your shoulders level and facing the same direction as your hips. Once you’re confident you’re holding the load securely, keep your head up and look ahead.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Manual handling injuries can be avoided if you’re aware of these common manual handling mistakes.
Using incorrect lifting techniques
The number one cause of manual handling injuries is using incorrect lifting techniques.
Poor technique will put excessive stress on your body, and this can cause immediate damage to muscles and tendons, as well as lead to long term musculoskeletal disorders.
Not taking regular breaks
If you’re regularly carrying out manual handling tasks make sure you take regular breaks. This allows you to rest and recover between lifts and reduces the chance of injury as a result of fatigue.
Not inspecting the area
Poor lighting, objects or materials obstructing the path, as well as uneven and slippery surfaces, can increase the risk of falling over or dropping the load, but many injuries are caused by people not taking the time to inspect the area.
Lack of training
The primary cause of manual handling mistakes? A lack of training.
Organisations need to be training their staff on safe lifting practices. If you’ve not been given training but asked to perform a manual handling task, ask for training on manual handling heavy lifting guidelines first.
Get a Quote for Professional Moving Services
If there’s ever a time when manual handling is required most it’s during a move, but if your business needs support then why not request a quote for professional moving services today?
Here at Happy2Move we’ve got years of experience in office removals and commercial removals, while we can tailor our service to meet your business’ specific needs. We provide sector-specific removal plans, while our experts will transport delicate and high-value equipment with care.
We’ll provide a quick and efficient service that reduces business disruption so you can focus on what you do best, so what are you waiting for? Request your free quote today.
