Everybody Needs Manual Handling Training: Not Just Heavy Lifters

Back pain affects around 80% of us at sometime in our lives and figures from the

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report that poor manual handling is responsible for 30% of all workplace injuries. All of us should undergo manual handling training as most of us will be required at some point to do some form of lifting. All manual handling needs to be done properly. An awkward sideways or sudden movement, regular or repetitive tasks - they could all cause back strain. Your back is a wonderful piece of technology, but also a vulnerable one and it needs to be taken good care of.

Learning good manual handling technique is not difficult, its a matter of thinking about any lifting or carrying task and ensuring that any difficulties have been taken into consideration BEFORE starting it. Always test the weight, always consider the route: are there stairs, doors to be opened, is the lighting sufficient, is there somewhere to put it down? These are all examples; there are many more factors that should be considered.

The HSE launched a Better Backs campaign as a major initiative in 2006 to focus on reducing the incidence of back pain at work. The overall aim at that time was to encourage people to think about working conditions and use appropriate equipment to reduce the incidence of back injuries at work. Five years on, back injuries at work due to poor manual handling HAVE BEEN reduced but still remain an issue.

Those working in certain industries are particularly at risk. Recycling, land transport, sewage and refuse disposal, and furniture, food and beverage production account for the largest number of such injuries. The HSE statistics also break down the manual handling injuries into types, for example over the last five years 25% of injuries were caused when lifting or putting down loads, 16% when pushing or pulling loads and 11% were sprains and strains from body movement.

Good manual handling training should include explanations of ALL factors which need to be taken into consideration when preparing for a lift and should clearly show the correct method of lifting. Explaining how the back works gives great background and clarifies what exactly is happening when the back is mistreated and makes SENSE of the training. Using various forms of communication (e.g. video, animation, illustration, engaging language) holds the attention and ensures better retention of knowledge. Regular interactivity ensures knowledge is more likely to be retained.

A toddler picking up a box from the floor will almost invariably use naturally good manual handling technique - bending at the knees rather than from the back - perhaps because their centre of gravity is low. Somehow, over the years that good technique is lost and needs to be re-learnt. Good preparation and learning a few simple steps to lift and carry is a great step in helping to avoid future back pain.

by: Kai Perry

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