Manual handling most common cause of injury

We have all heard that manual handling is the most common cause of injuries that lead to the most expensive claims. The impact on the individuals and their families as a result of the pain and social impact is difficult to quantify, but from firsthand experience it can be devastating and tragic.

Manual handling can be defined as pushing, pulling, lifting, lowering, restraining or otherwise interfacing with an object or objects.

The best prevention for manual handling injuries is to use your head first and then the rest of your body.

Planning the move or lift is at times more important than the task itself. Always try to engineer the process to eliminate or reduce the capacity for injury. Review the process constantly to see if a trolley can be used instead of a lift, or if a slide can be substituted for carrying or lifting.

In the cold weather it is highly recommended that a few stretches and warm up exercises are done prior to the task. We see elite athletes undergo a rigorous warm up protocol prior to an event. The importance of this preparation cannot be underestimated. Don’t forget to repeat the exercises if you have cooled down after a break.

Remember all incidents and injuries are preventable. The better planned and prepared we are the less likelihood of an incident.

Kevin Bassett

Corporate Safety Manager