Photo of the day: Manual Material handling

Manual material handling (MMH) is the most common cause of occupational fatigue and lower back pain. MMH includes any tasks that require a person to lift, lower, push, pull, hold or carry any object or material.

Table of Contents

Manual materials handling (MMH) involves lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, pulling or holding, and is the most common cause of occupational fatigue and low back pain.

About three of every four whose job includes MMH suffer pain due to back injury at some time. Each year several thousand workers are permanently disabled by back injuries, while many others are unable to return to their former jobs.

In the photo of the day and display this poster filled with practical tips to help remind workers of how to lift and handle materials properly and safely in the workplace.

What is manual materials handling?

Manual materials handling (MMH) means moving or handling things by lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, holding, or restraining. MMH is also the most common cause of occupational fatigue, low back pain, and lower back injuries.

What makes manual materials handling hazardous?

MMH is always hazardous but the level of hazard depends on what you are handling, what the task is, and what the conditions are at the workplace or work site.

For example, the material or load that you are handling may be:

Too heavy for the task that you are doing.
Located too high or low for a safe lift.
Too big or may have a shape that makes it hard to handle.
Wet, slippery, or have sharp edges that make it hard to grasp.
Unstable or can shift its center of gravity because it contains material that can flow (e.g., water, sand, a partially filled drum, or concrete in a wheelbarrow, or many objects within a container that are unbalanced or can shift).
Too big to let you see where you are putting your feet.

The task can make MMH hazardous if a worker:

Uses poor lifting techniques (lifting too fast, too often, or too long; lifting with back bent or while twisting or reaching too far; lifting while sitting or kneeling, etc.).
Has to move material over long distances.
Lifts or handles more than they can control safely.
Do not take appropriate rest breaks; insufficient recovery time.
Has a combination of handling tasks (e.g. lifting, carrying, and lowering).
Wears clothing that restricts movement or reduces grip strength.

The conditions where you are working can also contribute to hazards of MMH and result in injuries, for example:

Walking surfaces that are uneven, sloping, wet, icy, slippery, unsteady, etc.
Differences in floor levels or walking surfaces.
Poor housekeeping causes a slip, trip, and fall hazards.
Inadequate lighting.
Cold or very hot and humid working conditions.
Strong wind or gusty conditions.
Working at a high pace.
Movement is restricted because of clothing or personal protective equipment.
Space is small or posture is constrained or both.

As an employer, you must:

Ensure that materials, machines, or equipment are stored and located so they do not create a hazard to an employee.
Provide the necessary equipment to the employee for lifting and moving an object or material, and ensure the equipment is used by the employee.
Instruct employees on the appropriate method of lifting and moving objects and materials, including how to use the equipment provided.

Handling Heavy Objects

Handling and moving heavy objects requires special precautions. As the employer, you must ensure employees handling heavy objects:

Have and use chocks and ropes or other tackle to control the motion of the object.
Have and use bars or sledges to change the direction of moving rollers.
Do not stand on the downward side of an incline when moving heavy objects.

Key steps in preventing injuries from manual material handling include:

Identifying high-risk manual handling tasks that involve heavy physical exertion, have a high score on the discomfort survey or have resulted in a musculoskeletal injury in the past.
Assessing the tasks using the checklist. Consider the following risk factors:
- Forceful exertion (weight of objects, pushing/pulling force, carrying distance)
- Awkward posture (angle of body joints, workstation dimensions, working height)
- Repetitive motion (number of repetitions, duration, production rate)
Identifying solutions to reduce or eliminate the risk factors.
Regularly evaluating the tasks being performed, including investigating reported incidents due to manual handling and following up on employee concerns.

Consider solutions such as:

Changing the design of the job itself (work and rest schedules, job rotation, production rate).
The object being handled (weight, size, shape, handle).
The workstation (dimensions, layout, adjustability).
Providing mechanical aid.
Lifting, using employee teams.
Employee education, such as:
- Understanding the principles of body mechanics
- Recognizing high-risk tasks
- Reporting symptoms and incidents early so that necessary action can be taken
- Performing warm-up stretches and exercises

Anyone solution may not eliminate all the risks of injury. Choose the solution that best applies to your situation and use it as a starting point to improve your work environment.

While the employer is ultimately responsible for all the provisions mentioned above, the supervisor has a vital role to play in the safety of their teams. As a supervisor, you must:

Acquaint your employees with the hazards and control measures associated with their work
Provide the information and instruction necessary to ensure their health and safety
Enforce company safety rules, programs, codes of practice, and procedures.

(Tool box Talk about Manual-handling-of-loads-at-work/)

Safety Tips

Check out these safe lifting and handling tips

Think before you lift

Plan the lift. Where is the load going to be placed? Will help be needed with the load? Is there equipment you could use, such as a hoist, that could help with the lift?

Remove obstructions, such as discarded wrapping materials. For long lifts, such as from floor to shoulder height, consider resting the load midway on a table or bench to change your grip on it.

Keep the load close to the waist

Keep the load close to the waist for as long as possible while lifting to reduce the amount of pressure on the back.

Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body. If closely approaching the load is not possible, try to slide it towards the body before trying to lift it.

Adopt a stable position

Your feet should be apart with 1 leg slightly forward to maintain balance (alongside the load, if it’s on the ground).

Be prepared to move your feet during the lift to maintain a stable posture. Wearing over-tight clothing or unsuitable footwear, such as high heels or flip flops, may make this difficult.

Ensure a good hold on the load

Where possible, hug the load close to the body. This should help you make a stronger and more solid lift than gripping the load tightly with the hands only.

Do not bend your back when lifting

A slight bending of the back, hips, and knees at the start of the lift is preferable to either fully flexing the back (stooping) or fully flexing the hips and knees – in other words, fully squatting.

Do not bend the back any further while lifting

This can happen if the legs begin to straighten before starting to raise the load.

Do not twist when you lift

Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways, especially while the back is bent.

Keep your shoulders level and facing in the same direction as the hips. Turning by moving your feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time.

Look ahead

Keep your head up when handling the load. Look ahead, not down at the load, once it has been held securely.

Move smoothly

Do not jerk or snatch the load as this can make it harder to keep control and increases the risk of injury.

Know your limits

Do not lift or handle more than you can easily manage. There’s a difference between what people can lift and what they can safely lift. If you’re in doubt, seek advice or get help.