ML : Safe Manual Handling Of Materials

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Chapter : Manual Material Lifting

Safe Manual Handling Of Materials

 

As we all now, a day doesn’t go by without lifting something. Whether at home or at work, it’s important to use proper lifting techniques to reduce the risk of injury.

Back injuries are one of the most common injuries found at most of the workplace

At this section we will address proper lifting procedures , techniques, how to reduce the risk of a back injury and some other general safety tips.

Safe procedures:

There are some keys to safe lifting:

1. Keep your head up: Do this by keeping your eyes and chin up. Face forward. Keep eyes parallel to the floor. Doing so helps maintain a neutral curve in your back.
2. Keep the load close: Always keep the load close to your body. The closer the better. Handling the load away from your body can increase the chance for injuries such as strains and sprains to the shoulders, arms and back.|
3. Use a staggered stance: Having one foot in front of the other puts you in a better position of power. Doing so makes for a more stable lift and gives you better balance which helps decrease the chance of back strain when lifting.
4. Don’t twist: When moving a load, use your feet to change direction, avoid twisting. Moving your feet in the direction you plan to travel eliminates unnecessary strain on your back.
5. Plan each lift: Know your route and clear a path if necessary.
6. Communicate your lift with others: When needed, get someone to help.
7. Don’t jerk the load: Make each lift in a smooth motion.

Before beginning to handle and lift materials, get your body loose and stretch. If you practice the four keys to safe lifting, you will reduce the risk of injury and maintain a healthy back.

The proper lifting safety is important. Unsafe lifting of heavy objects can permanently destroy your back. Improper lifting can also cause strain on your knees and ankles. Back injuries can be life changing. If you pull the wrong muscle you could be permanently disabled. These reasons are why lifting safety is such an important topic.


Rules of Lifting Safety

There are several rules you should follow while lifting at work or home. They are designed to reduce stress on your body while lifting.

• Always bend at the knees. Never bend at your back this will cause muscle to bend and become stressed.
• Never try to pick up a heavy object by yourself. Always ask for help if you think it is to heavy to carry alone.
• Don’t rush fast jerky movement could cause a muscle to rip instead move slowly with smooth fluid movements.
• Walk at a slow even pace. Just like lifting hurried jerking movements can sprain muscles.
• Use a ladder to reach boxes that are on high selves. This reduces the risk of strain as wells as reduces your chances of dropping it on yourself which could result in serious injury.
• Keep your feet slightly apart while walking to help maintain proper balance.

Most back injuries are irreversible so any damage caused by failing to use lifting safety techniques will most likely be permanent. If you follow the lifting safety guidelines you will help keep you back in good shape well into old age.

Preparation:

• Ensure that you are wearing proper clothing and PPE
• Steel toe shoes should always be worn when lifting heavy items
• Gloves are also recommended when lifting certain objects
• Stretch before you attempt to lift a heavy object or at beginning of shift
• If possible, store materials at waist height to reduce the strain on your back
• Have materials delivered as close to final destination as possible
• Assess the object you are going to be lifting
• Determine the weight of the object before lifting
• Determine best place to grip the object
• Ensure that your travel path is free of slipping and tripping hazards
• Know your own lifting restrictions and capabilities

Get Help:

• Use carts, dollies, forklifts and hoists to move materials
• When lifting a load more than 22kg (50 lbs), get help from an other worker
• Use carrying tools with handles to carry odd-shaped loads

Proper Lifting Techniques:

• Have your feet spread about shoulders-width apart.
• Your feet should be close to the object.
• Get a firm grip on the object.
• Keep your back straight and elbows close to your body.
• Keeping your back straight and head up, straighten your legs to lift object
• At the same time tighten your stomach muscles to provide back support (Don’t hold your breath while doing this)
• While carrying the object DO NOT twist or bend at the waist, move your feet and legs when turning.
• Keep the load as close to your body as possible
• To set the object down, use the same technique used to lift the object 

Other Useful Safety Tips:

• Take your time! You are more likely to be injured when you are tired or cold
• Lift as smoothly as possible, try not to “jerk” the lift

Group Discussion Topics:

• Has anyone had a back injury? How could this have been prevented?
• Are there common objects which you find yourself lifting frequently? Do you have specific procedures for lifting these objects?
• Do you have access to material handling equipment? If no, can you obtain them?

SAFE MANUAL HANDLING OF MATERIALS

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Research studies have established that about 40% of industrial accidents were related to material handling. In our company the accidents due to poor material handling practice amounts to about 40 to 50% of the accidents. Hence to avoid the recurrence of such incidents, follow the safe guidelines listed below.

• When any heavy object is to be lifted and carried to another point, first inspect the area and route over which the object is to be carried. Be sure there is nothing in the way that might cause slipping or tripping.
• Inspect the object to be lifted to determine how it should be grasped. Make sure it is free of sharp edges, protruding nail points, slivers or other hazards that might cause injury to the hands or body.
• Ensure that the load share on the individual during lifting the material is less than 50kg.
• When group of members handles the material, proper coordination should be established between them.
• When handling sharp objects, like Stainless Steel car body panels, leather gloves should be used to avoid cut injuries.
• When handling materials having burrs like wire ropes, leather gloves should be used.
• Always engage persons having safety shoes to handle heavier materials.
• Incorrect lifting methods require unnecessary effort and often cause strain or other types of injury. When it is necessary to lift any object, which is difficult for one person to handle, ask for help. The easy way to lift is actually the safe way to lift.
• To ensure safe manual material handling, Always follow the material handling practice provided below to ensure safe handling.

1. Get a secure footing.
2. Bend at the knees to grasp the object.
3. Ensure that the center of gravity of the lifting material is at the nearest possible distance from the body.
4. Keep the back straight and as nearly upright as possible.
5.  Get a firm hold.
6. Lift gradually by straightening the legs, keeping the back as nearly straight as possible.

The same procedure should be observed when setting load down.

 

 

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