The Definition of Manual Handling

Manual: of or done with the hands, powered by the hands - from the old French manuel, from Latin manualis =hand.

Handling: manipulation; management; treatment.

So from the definition one can see that Manual Handling is "the manipulation, management or treatment of something, using the hands."

A more detailed definition adopted by the National Occupational Health & Safety Commission in the National Standard is:

"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."

Incorrect Lift and Bending

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Is it necessary to perform lifting or general manual handling your workplace? Has a proper risk assessment been done? If lifting and general manual handling is necessary because of the nature of the work then do your people know enough to avoid injury? Do supervisors know what a manual handling risk looks like? These are questions all employers need to ask themselves.

I am sure that the working person is sick of hearing “bend your knees and keep your back straight”. It’s simply not enough to post this message on the wall, in fact the message is now invisible. The more this message is shown it seems the less they appear to listen.

Today, 50 per cent of all lost time injuries are sprains and strains mainly to the back and neck. Over half of those who have time off work with back pain suffer another attack within a year. Two thirds of back injuries are attributed to poor manual handling skills.

Most of these injuries, however, could have been prevented with effective and practical manual handling training coupled with the proper use of injury prevention techniques such as:

The daily use of spinal motion and joint/limb stretches and exercises.
The use of workable ergonomics in the home and workplace.
Careful application of risk assessments carried out in the workplace based on proper observation of workplace activities.

Almost every activity that we are involved in requires skilled manual handling. Unless employers and employees understand the basic principles involved in managing the human body while handling tools, objects and and materials, sooner or later back, neck or limb injuries will occur. These injuries inevitably accumulate over time, resulting in serious debilitation and permanent damage. To effectively conduct manual handling risk assessments staff must be trained in The Backsafe/ Straight Back to Health Program.

Our goal is thus to supply you with not only the "know how", but also the necessary prevention techniques and tools to eliminate the risks before it is too late. We want you to have the knowledge and the ability to apply this information so that you can prevent the pain, suffering and debilitation associated with these injuries.

Isn’t it time that we explained to the working person why it’s advisable to lift and manually handle wisely. Yes they are intelligent enough to understand. If they get it, they are much more likely to act on the information. We believe that a trainer has to provide the information for a new healthy habit and drill it into the muscle memory to replace the old unhealthy habit that has been ingrained from an early age. Break the habit or break your back.

Corner Stretch (See our 3 minute office workout in our 40 page colour Manual Handling Employee Workbook for details)

Injuries threaten businesses causing absenteeism, lower production rates and increased costs, and individuals and their families suffer not only because of physical pain but also because of financial losses. Do your staff understand the forces on the back when they lift bent over? Do you? Are your managers watching back injuries develop right before their eyes? Get a copy of our 40 page workbook and our laminated exercise card and ask us how we can assist you to stop injuries and prevent the money drain from your business.