Correct sequence manual lifting

Adopt a stable position. Get a good hold. Start in a good posture. Don't flex the back any further while lifting. Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways, especially while the back is bent. Push Before Pulling It is safer to push rather than pull. Keep your back straight and bend your knees. Do not twist at your hips to push , but rather keep your core tight and use your legs and body weight to move the object. When carrying, keep the load close to your waist for as long as possible.

Put the heaviest side of the load closest to your body. Keep your head up and look ahead, not down at the load, and avoid twisting or leaning sideways. If you need to, put the load down and adjust your grip before continuing the lift.

Risk assessment is a term used to describe the overall process or method where you: Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm hazard identification.

Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard risk analysis, and risk evaluation. Manual handling involves lifting, carrying, lowering or otherwise carrying or moving a load by hand or bodily force.

It is the most common cause of accidental injury in the workplace and the potential risks of manual handling affect nearly all members. The lift involves pinching to hold the object.

Heavy lifting is done with one hand. Very heavy items are lifted without the assistance of a mechanical device. Heavy items are lifted while bending over, reaching above shoulder height, or twisting. PPE is equipment that will protect the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include items such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses.

It also includes respiratory protective equipment RPE. The guidelines suggest that the maximum weight men should lift at work is 25kg. This relates to loads held close to the body at around waist height. The recommended maximum weight is reduced to 5kg for loads being held at arms length or above shoulder height.

Manual handling can be defined as the transporting or supporting of a load by hand or another part of the body. Elimination : this means physically removing the hazard. For example, making the manual task of opening a heavy gate automated by using a remote control. However not all hazards can be eliminated as this would mean a business may not be able to operate, therefore other less effective controls are more appropriate for some hazards.

Substitution : this requires replacing something which is hazardous with something less hazardous. For example, large boxes of stock might be replaced with smaller boxes, meaning staff only need to lift lighter boxes. Engineering controls : this means creating a physical change to the workspace to remove people from the hazard. Administration : this requires changes to the way people work, such as by implementing new policies, undergoing additional training or placing warning notices around the workplace.

Task modification is another way the likelihood of injuries can be reduced. Examples of this include:. Decrease the weight of object being handled — this might mean pulling furniture or equipment apart to transport it, or it might mean taking some objects out of a box before attempting to carry it. Use two or more people to move heavy or large objects — staff need to be encouraged to seek assistance from colleagues and not try to do things alone when doing so will be dangerous.

To avoid injury, follow these steps for proper lifting and material handling: Warm Up: Your muscles need good blood flow to perform properly.

Consider simple exercises such as jumping jacks to get warmed up prior to lifting tasks. Stand close to load: The force exerted on your lower back is multiplied by the distance to the object. Stand as close to the load as possible when lifting. Bend your knees: Bending your knees and keeping your upper body upright allows you to use your legs to lift, rather than your back.