Richard Cutler, the engineering manager of Alwayse Engineering, recognises that there have been improvements in manual handling safety. Still, there remains what he calls the first lift/last lift manual handling blind spot.
Approximately 30% of workplace accidents occur during manual handling operations. To address this issue, warehouse equipment such as aisle and furniture trolleys are engineered to make them easier to move and manoeuvre. Additionally, robots, conveyors, scissor lifts and forklifts are used to manage the transportation of heavy items within the workplace.
According to Richard Cutler, a primary concern is the blind spot known as the first lift/last lift, which is when heavy items are manually lifted from transport equipment to racks and vice versa.
The issue is particularly a problem in restricted areas, where it is difficult to keep the spine upright when lifting to avoid bending and twisting, which causes musculoskeletal injuries. Employers perform risk assessments that identify safety blind spots, but solutions can be expensive. For instance, lifting robots need large safety zones, which is impractical in small areas unless shelves are removed, reducing storage capacity.
Cutler says that what is needed are low-cost solutions such as omnidirectional ball transfer equipment that moves heavy equipment and tools on and off transport. J-plates also help as they prevent equipment from accidentally rolling off racks and slowly push equipment onto scissor lifts. Both these solutions reduce the need for workers to lift heavy loads on and off transport.
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