A Guide to Manual Handling Issues in the Workplace

When you are in charge of manual tasks at work, there is always the chance for injury to occur. Since this is so common, it would be wise for every worker to understand how to avoid the problem. Unsafe manual handling practices are the main causes of MSDs. The first thing to do when trying to decide whether you are at risk for MSD is to understand what manual handling is. While moving boxes and lifting furniture can both be parts of it, the concept encompasses so much more. Picking things up repetitively and taking them from place to place is enough to put a serious strain on your back. The main cause for back injuries in the workplace is improper posture in lifting heavy items. Either carrying a heavy load, or too many items at once can cause one to slip and fall. It is important to ensure that all loads are being handled by safe materials handling equipment such as trolleys, scissor lifts, cages etc. 

Tips for Safe Manual Handling of Heavy Objects

Certain industries, like food and restaurant, are labour intensive. Here, chefs and waiters regularly do a lot of heavy lifting, making them prone to tripping, falling and musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs. In such a physically demanding work environment, back, neck and limb MSDs are a common problem. So if you value your business, it is critical to take care of your employees' health. 

Equipment that prevents or minimizes Manual Handling Risks

Material handling equipment covers a wide range of gadgets and tools for safe lifting, moving, transporting, and storage of goods. Tools such as fork lifters or stackers, drum handling equipment, portable cranes, platform table trolleys and aluminium ladders are designed with safety and productivity in mind. With the wide array of handling, rotating and lifting tools available, it can be difficult to decide which ones you really need. 

Trolleys and Hand Trucks are designed to make a difficult two-person job easy to handle on your own. 

MHA's Platform/Forklift Lift Trolley is ideal if you need to lift heavy items into trucks and vans, then the 150kg lift table trolley is perfect for the job. It can safely transport heavy items of up to 150gg with ease. In addition, this device can easily be adjusted to any height or position for ease of loading or unloading.

Expanding Roller Conveyors. These flexible, expandable conveyors allow you to move both light and heavy items safely and quickly through high traffic areas. The flexible expanding roller is ideal for loading and unloading odd shaped boxes and bags that can't be moved through a skate wheel conveyor. 

Aluminium Ladders and platforms are good when you need the support and stability of an aluminium order picking ladder so that you don't ever have to strain again to retrieve items from the topmost shelves. 

MHA's Drum Cradle can hold a single drum securely. It's simple yet ergonomic design allows you to move drums safely and efficiently around the workplace. 

The Forklift Drum Rotator is designed to convert your forklift into a drum handler. If you own a forklift, you can conveniently convert it into a drum handler using a forklift drum rotator. With this tool, lifting and tilting drums becomes a safe and easy task. 

MHA's Container Ramps are great if your business involves loading and unloading goods using forklifts or pallet trucks. A container ramp will facilitate the job, without the need of manual lifting and handling.   

Industrial Tooling Workstation. This is a convenient way to carry your tools around the workplace without lifting, straining or unnecessary bending. It's an all-in-one tooling cabinet equipped with wheels that you can push around the workplace safely and conveniently. 

Bear in mind that the most important aspects of workplace safety are awareness of the problem and minimizing manual handling issues, through proper posture, teamwork, and the use of high quality handling equipment. Continue to browse the extensive range of materials handling products MHA offer for the safest, efficient device.