Manual Handling

What is Manual Handling?

“Any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any object.”

 

What sort of injuries occur?

· Most common are back & shoulder — large forces/loads involved.

· Neck, shoulder, elbow and wrist —  low force, repetitive actions, awkward postures.

How do injuries occur?

· More often due to cumulative strain or overuse rather than a single event.

· Can be one off ‘macrotrauma” from unsafe practices with heavy loads

Repetitive microtrauma is caused by:

· Years of poor sitting

· Poor lifting technique

· Activities that jar the spine

· Excessive heavy lifting

Basic Principles to minimise injury

- Layout— Assess the risk, plan ahead, test the load, keep it close

 

- Posture— Maintain ideal natural spinal curves

- Movement— nice fluid pick ups and put downs

- Tighten stomach muscles gently prior to the lifting motion

- Head and shoulders up

- Lift with legs and gluteal muscles

- Smooth even motion

- Efficient use of body

- Don’t twist the spine—move feet instead

Be an industrial athlete

-  Warm up — be work ready

-  Recovery — stretch throughout the day

-  Flexibility — from shoulders to calves

-  Good posture — protect your spine

-  General fitness = less back pain

-  Muscle pain— keep active as much as possible



 Pressure in the low back discs changes with

posture and load.



For more Information

Wesley Corporate Health

Level 2 / 46 Edward Street

Brisbane  Qld  4000

Phone:  07 3234 2600

Email: info@weshealth.com.au

Disclaimer

This Fact Sheet is provided for your information only and does not replace qualified medical advice. The information provided may not apply to every person or all situations. A medical practitioner should be consulted for all treatment and medication.