One IOH practice recorded 216 new injuries relating to manual handling in a single year. This is 216 injuries which could be avoided.

Manual Handling can be defined as "any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any animate or inanimate object." (WorkCover 2009)  The identification of manual handling hazards in the workplace can assist employers to minimise the occurrence of employees sustaining Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) from manual handling tasks.  

Owners, managers, OHS Committees and representatives, as well as anyone else outside these roles with an interest to improve OHS have the power to identify risks within the workplace. The OHS Act and OHS Regulation introduce a risk management process which involves hazard identification, risk assessment and risk elimination or control.  WorkCover’s Manual Handling Risk Assessment Reference Sheet (2009) can be used as a basis to identify lifting, reaching, bending/twisting, pushing/pulling, repetitive movement and prolonged standing actions all of which pose a risk to sustaining a manual handling injury. 

It must be understood that the legislation only enforces minimum standards as merely the starting platform for the organisation in terms of manual handling.  Organisations must be at the forefront, consistently aware of the rising concerns within the workplace and be readily prepared to minimise (or in best-case-scenario eliminate) the risks to ensure the best safety possible for employees. To improve manual handling safety within the workplace there must be a flow of communication from employer to employee and vice versa. This enables safe work procedures to be in place as well as understood and practised. 

Management must recognise the seriousness of the issue at hand and commit to the continuous supervision as well as training and consultation to avoid serious injuries.

Here are some practical suggestions devised by Smart Move – WorkCover (2010) to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries within the workplace.

• Perform a variety of work tasks during the day
• Alternate between tasks wherever possible
• Perform movements smoothly in a comfortable balanced posture with minimal bending, twisting and over reaching
• Change your posture and working position throughout the day to avoid prolonged sitting or standing
• Take regular rest breaks from repetitive tasks
• Position tools, controls, equipment or furniture to allow work to be done in a comfortable upright position with most work carried out at waist level

For more information on customised manual handling procedures as well as manual handling training for representatives please contact your local IOH office.
IOH Branch Locations

References

WorkCover (2010), "About Manual Handling", Smart Move, WorkCover NSW. New South Wales Government. [Online] (Accessed 01/07/2010)

WorkCover (2009), "Manual Handling Risk Assessment Reference Sheet", WorkCover Authority of New South Wales. [Online] (Accessed 01/07/2010)