Material Handling Safety
Manual Material Handling Safety Definition
Manual handling safety refers to the employment of manual strength in handling materials. The method increases the risk of injury and adds to the cost of the product. To reduce workplace injury and improve efficiency, material handling has to be reduced through groupings of tasks, elimination of unnecessary procedures or mechanical operations.
GFR guidelines state that the load-lifting limit is :
- 29.5 kg in men
- 20.4 kg in women
In 2023, statistics show that almost 21% of the occupational injuries were a result of manual handling operations such as lifting, carrying, or moving loads. These injuries typically occur due to inadequate training or the absence of equipment, leading to strains, sprains, or musculoskeletal disorders.
Prevention of Hazardous Material Handling
- Protect hands : Avoid placing fingers close to material resting areas, especially when setting them on rollers.
- Long object handling : Never put fingers near wood, pipes, or other long material ends to prevent pinching oneself.
- Firm grip : Remove grease, water, or dirt from objects before they are handled.
- Don’t injure your back : Most back injuries are caused when lifting or putting down objects. Lift safely.
- Use the appropriate personal protective equipment based on the material being worked on.
- Manual handling is a common cause of MSD such as injury to the back, tendons, Ligaments, muscles, Hernia, Cuts, burns, dislocations, broken bones and WRULD’s.
- The lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling of a load by bodily force is called manual handing.
Expand Your Knowledge on [Basic Safety Rules]
Control Measures for reducing the risk of Manual Handling
- Eliminate Manual Handling
- Assess the manual handling that cannot be eliminated
- Use Handling aids
- Modify the task, Load or Environment
- Ensure individual capabilities are matched to the activity
Manual Handling Technique
Check the Load
- Consider the weight, size, and shape of the object.
- Don’t lift beyond what you can do easily.
- Call for help if needed.
Stand in the Right Position
- Stand as near to the load as is possible.
- Bend knees to 90 degrees if you’re bending down, not squatting.
- Don’t use deep squats that require more force to stand up from.
- Bend at hips, not at lower back.
Grip Object Securely
- Hold the object securely during the lift.
- Don’t readjust your hold until placing the object on the ground, if at all.
Lift Correctly
- Stand up with straight legs and back in a straight position.
- Start lifting while looking upwards.
Don’t Twist
- Never twist when turning around or putting an object down on the ground.
- Instead, turn your whole body and stoop.
Safeguard Your Hands
- Lower one aspect of the thing to eliminate and safely remove fingers from beneath.
