When we start a new job, or in our current employment situation, it is likely that we will need to carry out some form of manual handling. This is why it is extremely important that our employer does everything possible to ensure we know how to do this safely, and in a way that we won’t cause ourselves any injury. Manual handling can mean anything from lifting a few boxes to pushing and pulling heavy equipment.
The government created the Manual Handling Operations Regulations Act 1992 (amended in 2002) which are designed to protect employees from injuries at work caused by manual handling. Records kept by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that more than a third of all accidents reported to them that resulted in a person being absent from work for more than three days are related to manual handling at work.
A lot of people think that manual handling is just lifting and carrying objects, so it doesn’t affect them. Manual handling is also the lowering, pushing, and pulling of objects. No matter what job role you have, it is likely you will have to carry out some form of manual handling whilst at work.
When looking to prevent an employee from becoming injured due to a manual handling accident, there are a number of things employers can do:
- Enrolling staff on a manual handling course will show them the correct and safe way to lift, lower, push, and pull objects in a way that won’t cause them injury.
- Assess all manual handling work and try to eliminate work which isn’t essential.
- Carry out a risk assessment on all manual handling work that cannot be eliminated and carries the risk of causing an injury.
Employees should:
- Make sure that they co-operate with their employer on all matters relating to health and safety. This may mean attending courses outside work, or following health and safety procedures.
- Make their employer aware of any dangerous manual handling they become aware of.
- Notify their employer if they feel unsafe when carrying out a manual handling operation.
- Use all safety equipment provided by their employer.
If you become involved in a manual handling accident at work, you should seek medical attention. They will then assess your injuries and record how they were caused in your medical records. It may be that you need time off work to recover from such an injury; your GP will be able to write to your employer stating why and how long you will be off for.
