Manual Handling Training Session VCA March 09

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Manual Handling Training Session VCA March 09
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Training Objectives
1. To outline obligations regarding health and
safety at work 2. To discuss/demonstrate
relevant aspects of human anatomy and how common
injuries occur during manual handling 3. To
provide an overview of managing manual handling
risk and preventing injury 4. To instruct in
best practice work methods and manual handling
techniques to optimise work comfort, health and
safety.
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1. Obligations

• Employers and employees must
• Comply with Legislation
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007
• Follow University Policy and Procedures
• Undertake risk assessments..
• Report incidents, injuries, near misses

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Manual handling is

• ...any activity requiring the use of force
  exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull,
  carry or otherwise move or restrain any animate
  or inanimate object
• Most jobs involve some manual handling
• Not all manual handling is hazardous!

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Why Manual handling training

• Your employer has a legal (OHS law) and moral
  duty of care
• YOU have a legal duty of care
• VWA statistics-MH injuries-sprains and strains
  high-almost always preventable
• Consequences-compensation for injuries is
  costly-, pain, disability, financial loss
• Workers are not generally good at thinking about
  their work environment or the postures they use
  to do their work
• Training is not sufficient to control MH risk

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Hazardous manual handling

• . Repetitive or sustained awkward postures,
  forces, movements
• Repetitive gt twice per minute
• Sustained gt 30 secs at a time
• . Duration frequency
• gt 30 minutes at a time or 2 hours shift
• . Exertion of high force
• Levelpeople find this difficult, effortful
• . Environmental /individual factors
• Vibration, hot/cold, load characteristicsindividu
  al health etc
• WEIGHT..
• 4.5kg seated. 16-20kg standing. gt 500mm dimension
• 20kg 2person 40kg 3 person. 55kg mechanical

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Manual Handling

• Consider your jobs/tasks. .
• What are your main MH risks?
• Is there a manual handling problem?
• What will todays session achieve?
• Is training effective?
• Is it the tip of the iceberg?

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Repetitive or sustained awkward posture, forces,
movements
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Duration and Frequency
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Application of high force
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Environmental and individual factors
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Facts

• A 4 kg load held 60 cm away from the body exerts
  same load on spine as a 12 kg load held 20 cm
  from body

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Ergonomics is..

• Fitting the task to the human
• Improving workplace design, comfort, health and
  safety, reducing injury risk.
• Job Design and Process
• Physical Environment
• Work Methods

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The Musculoskeletal System and injury

• The Musculoskeletal System is made up of the
• Skeleton/spine
• Muscles
• Joints
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• How does manual handling impact on these
  structures

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The Musculoskeletal System and
injury

• Gradual wear and tear injuries caused by
  prolonged poor postures, repetitive actions,
  movements
• Sudden damage unexpected awkward movements,
  high force exertions.

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The spine

• The spine is configured in an S
• shape to permit maximum mobility, balance,
  flexibility, stress absorption and distribution.
• 3 notable curves of the spine-
• Neck- curves inward
• Middle back -curves out
• Lower back -curves inward

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The discs

• Discs -spongy shock absorbing structures between
  the vertebrae.
• Pressure in the discs varies with different
  movements and postures
• Pressure increases when bending forward, twisting
  -particularly if this is combined with handling a
  load.
• Pressure LOWEST when maintaining the spinal
  curves
• Discs are resilient but if damaged they can be
  extremely painful
• They have a poor blood /nerve supply

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Low back disc pressures
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Muscles

• The main framework of the
• body (skeleton) is covered
• by muscles, whose function
• is to permit movement
• and maintain
• posture.

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Muscle work

• A. Dynamic muscle work
• Muscles contract-and the body part moves.
  Rhythmic action between contracting and relaxing
  muscles eg. Walking, keying. Sustainable for long
  periods. We are built to be on the move
• B. Static muscle work
• Muscles contract-but no movement. Most common
  type of work the body does.
• Body parts are held in stationary positions
  using microscope, holding pipette. We have
  become glued to our workstations

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Static muscle work

• Muscles are held contracted.
• Blood supply including oxygen and nutrients to
  the muscles is restricted.
• Waste disposal (removal of lactic acid) is
  impeded.
• Fatigue, tiredness, discomfort results.
• If prolonged, pain and tissue damage eventuates

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Reduce static muscle load

• Tune in to your body to check your posture
  regularly.
• Take frequent short/micro breaks e.g 60 seconds
  every 10 minutes.
• Set a timer as a prompt-microsoft outlook or
  access free downloadable timers, set phone,
  alarm.
• Relax shoulders-stop drop and roll.
• Stretch and sigh, hands by sides
• gt Pain means physiological tissue change
• When you are tired, hurried or under pressure you
  are more at risk.

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Core muscles

• Behave like a supportive corset
• Brace the spine by drawing /
• tightening the area below the belly button
  whilst breathing normally.
• Brace deep spinal muscles before
• performing manual handling to assist
• in stabilising the lower spine.

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Back Muscles

• Muscles that move the back.
• Long and strap like. No muscle belly Not
  designed to lift loads/exert power Power muscles
  quads, gluteals
• Maintaining S shape protects back muscles

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Joints

• Joints are where bones meet and movement occurs
• There are many different types of joints in our
  bodies with variable ranges of movement. All
  joints are subject to wear and tear when we
  overload or over stretch them or adopt awkward
  postures to perform tasks
• Joints can be best protected and preserved by
• Maintaining neutral, bio-mechanically efficient
  joint positions e.g. 90 degrees hips, knees,
  ankles, elbows, straight wrists and spine in S
  shape
• Keeping the muscles around them strong

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Tendons

• Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bone.
  When muscles contract, tendons pull on bones in a
  smooth gliding motion.
• When the action of pulling the muscle is highly
  repetitive the tendon can become inflamed and
  movement becomes painful.

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Ligaments

• Ligaments are strong, inelastic tissues that
  provide structure and reinforcement to joints.
• Ligaments elongate slowly and mould into the
  position the joint adopts. (ligament creep)
• Ligaments are most prone to injury when they are
  suddenly or forcefully overstretched or rotated
• In the lab this can happen when you
• Get up quickly after sitting
• especially in a static
• posture for a long time,
• twist to reach out,
• turn around

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Consequences

• With time and repetition, discs
• muscles, tendons, ligaments can be damaged,
  resulting in injuries known as musculoskeletal
  disorders or MSDs.
• Most common injuries or disorders
• include carpal tunnel syndrome,
• tendonitis, tennis elbow,
• tenosynovitis, trigger finger, and..
• various neck, shoulder and back symptoms.

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How do we manage manual handling injury risk

• THE RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH

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What is risk management?

• A method of managing hazards
• The process defined in the OHS legislation with 4
  distinct steps-hazard identification, risk
  assessment, risk control and review
• Conducted by the employer and employee

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The steps
1. Identify hazardous work tasks that you
perform.
2. Assess whether the task is risky-i.e likely
to cause an injury.
3. Control eliminate or reduce the risk with
controls
4. Review Are the controls are effective in
reducing the manual handling risks.
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Risk Management
Hazard the potential to cause injury or illness
Risk the likelihood of injury or illness
arising from exposure to a hazard.
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Risk Assessment

• What is it
• Making a judgment or determination about the
  activity/task/ environment.
• Think Not can I do it, but should I do it!

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When and How

• Early
• Predict prevent incidents/injuries reccuring.
  State of knowledge
• Optimise recovery
• Our current system of reporting hazards,
  incidents and injury is through Themis. Contact
  EHS Department

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Optimum manual handling methods

• Always risk assess and plan first
• Use trolleys /mechanical aids where available to
  reduce handling heavy items
• Utilise team handling
• Review design of work area, layout, storage,
  organisation. Is there a better design ?
• Break down loads where possible
• Good housekeeping no clutter, trip hazards
• Audit storage-is it needed
• Store frequently used or heavier items between
  knee and shoulder level AVOID THE FLOOR
• Do not overload trolleys, shelves
• Signage, education

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Optimum manual handling methods

• Avoid unnecessary lifting-slide, tip, roll,
  exploit the load dimensions
• Ensure path of travel is unobstructed
• Maintain spinal curves, avoid twisting keep
  the knees, nose and toes in line
• Keep the load hugged close no air, balanced
  using two hands
• Lunge and pivot-use strong leg muscles
• Brace core muscles.
• Move with the load not against it
• Push rather than pull where possible
• Rotate tasks / take rest breaks

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Protective postures
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Optimum manual handling methods

• If working at ground/low levels kneel on one
  knee- This is a stable position for the lower
  back, and is easier to get up and down from
• Avoid sustained deep squatting and/or kneeling on
  2 knees
• Use golfers kick to increase reach
• Use knee up to assist in loading and unloading
• Brace and make brackets with your limbs
• Undertake reverse stretches and quick
  relaxation techniques e.g. Stop, drop and roll
  your shoulders

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Optimum manual handling methods
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4. Best practice

• Fitting your workstation to you

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Or elseterrible things may happen
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The teenagers bedroom workstation
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The wishing I was on holidays workstation
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The lost workstation
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4.1 Desk

• If your desk is height adjustable-adjust so the
  shoulders are relaxed and elbows are bent to 90
  degrees and parallel with the keyboard.
• Your hips should be slightly higher than your
  knees, feet flat on the floor.
• If desk is not adjustable adjust chair
• Fixed height desks should be 680-720mm
• Desks should be lt40mm thick
• Under desk should be free from clutter
• If you are very tall, the desk may need raising
  with blocks or a new desk supplied

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4.2 Chair

• Raise the back support to maximum height then
  lower until it comfortably fits the lumbar curve
  - about a hands width gap between the back
  support and seat.
• Sit as far back into your chair as possible
  should be 2-3 finger width between seat edge and
  back of knee.
• Raise your chair height so that your elbows are
  slightly higher than the keyboard and your
  shoulders relaxed -hips should be slightly higher
  than knees.
• If feet are not flat on the floor a footrest is
  required.
• If you cant achieve the above or cannot get
  comfortable you may need an alternative chair

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4.2 Chair arms

• Not generally recommended for chairs used at a
  computer workstation.
• Arm rests can limit forward movement of the
  chair under the workstation or obstruct mobility
  around the workstation resulting in over
  reaching, twisting rather than using the swivel
  mechanism on the chair if so remove them.
• Arm rests are designed to assist transfer in/out
  of the chair and not for leaning on. If you cant
  sustain an upright posture-time to take a break

Your forearms should be parallel with the keyboard
Your feet should be adequately supported on the
floor or by a footrest
The desk should be approx. 680-720mm high
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4.3 Computer monitor

• Monitor should be flat, not angled and
  approximately arms reach away.
• The top of the screen should be level with your
  seated eye height. If not a screen raising device
  may be required
• Adjust brightness and contrast to suit your
  visual comfort.
• Scroll work up to the top of the screen to reduce
  unnecessary neck flexion (bending)

Monitor and document position
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4.4 Keyboard

• Keyboard should be positioned directly in line
  with screen and user- flat on desk.
• Keyboard with a thin profile sloping down to desk
  level is the preferred design.
• Avoid resting wrists on the desk when keying- a
  foam wrist rest may be required
• Keep keyboard feet in lowered position to
  ensure wrists are as neutral as possible.
• Key strike should not be forceful.
• Use keyboard shortcut keys

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s
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4.5 Mouse

• Use short cut keys wherever possible.
• Alternate mouse use between hands
• Place mouse mat directly next to keyboard
• Relax shoulder, support forearm on desk, maintain
  middle finger in line with shoulder,
• There should be no sideways wrist movements.
• Take hand off mouse when not using.
• Mouse rests/pads are not recommended

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4.6 Document holders

• If need to refer to /read off documents
• Neck/ shoulder strain occurs from twisting and
  bending the neck to read documents placed on the
  desk.
• Use a document holder to maintain a neutral neck
  posture
• An A-frame holder is the preferred design and
  should be placed between the keyboard and screen.

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4.7 Phone

• Phone should be placed within comfortable reach
• If there is a requirement to simultaneously speak
  on the phone and write/key, a headset or blue
  tooth device is required so a symmetrical posture
  can be maintained
• Never tuck the phone between your shoulder and
  ear
• Use speaker function if appropriate

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4.8 Desktop items and reach zones
Frequently used desktop items such as telephone,
stationery should be positioned within
comfortable reach.
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4.9 Laptop users

• Laptops are not recommended for extended periods
  because the design-keyboard attached to screen
  results in sustained neck flexion (forward
  bending)
• When handling lap top computers a light weight
  bag with padded shoulder strap should be used
  with brief case in the other hand to balance up
• Only carry what you have to
• Laptop wheelie bags tend to get overloaded and
  then pose a significant manual handling problem
  when loading into the car or up steps
• Always place heavy items in the boot of the car

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Typical laptop posture
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Laptop solutions

• Use a docking station in your office
• Second keyboard
• Second mouse

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4.10 Physical environment

• Noise should not be at a level which interferes
  with communication, is annoying or distracting or
  affects performance of tasks such as reading and
  writing.
• Air temperature, flow and quality should be
  comfortable. Thermal comfort varies greatly
  between individuals. 22 degrees is the
  recommended ambient office temperature. Clothing
  is the most obvious control. Drafts can be
  addressed with deflectors.
• Report any problems

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4.10 Physical environment

• Noise should not be at a level which interferes
  with communication, is annoying or distracting or
  affects performance of tasks such as reading and
  writing.
• Air temperature, flow and quality should be
  comfortable. Thermal comfort varies greatly
  between individuals. 22 degrees is the
  recommended ambient office temperature. Clothing
  is the most obvious control. Drafts can be
  addressed with deflectors.
• Report any problems

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4.10 Lighting

• Flat screens have eliminated most glare problems
• The screen should be placed in a position to
  minimise glare or reflections from light sources.
• Avoid sitting facing a window. Adjusting
• to the contrast between external light and
• screen is hard work for the eye muscles.
• Insufficient light/shadows can cause
• crouching over work/ poor posture.
• Control light with blinds and light diffusers
• Focus on objects at different distances, blink
  regularly to refresh eyes and take breaks away
  from computer

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So we can fit ourselves to our workplaces. Based
on the history of evolution this may take some
time and may not be so attractive.
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4.11 Stress

• A range of stressors exist in our work
  environments- workloads, deadlines, challenging
  personalities
• Something is only stressful if you tell yourself
  it is -see it as a challenge and work with it
  not against it
• Tune in to your body, relax,
• take some deep breaths
• and sighs, release physical
• tension, laugh-its contagious
• Tune in to your most powerful tool
• - your mind. Is your self talk positive.
• Challenge negative beliefs.
• We all choose our attitudes..

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Or the we can fit our environments to us. This
has been found to be quicker and easier
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Laptop posture hazards
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Keep Work fit

• Get into exercise-for fitness, strength,
  mobility.
• Adequate rest/sleep.
• Hydrate more water less coffee
• Relaxation, stress management, recreation
• Life balance
• All above help cope with the physical and
  psychological demands of work.

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And on the weekend