Manual Handling

In the UK, 54 million working days are lost each year because of pain, strain and injuries to the back. Nearly all jobs involve some form of manual handling, which includes lifting, pulling, pushing and carrying a range of objects. Use of poor techniques to move material is the most common cause of injury at work.

Injuries to the back, shoulders, neck, hand, arms and feet mostly result from moving heavy or awkward loads, restricted space, carrying loads up and down stairs and awkward movements such as reaching, stooping and twisting.

The following simple steps will help you to prevent injuries caused by manual handling, you may wish to use them as a safety checklist.