Safety organisation targets growing trend of handling injuries

Training organisation WorkSafe is aiming to help industries raise safety standards by training workers in safe manual handling strategies.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), manual handling injuries account for 17% of all non-fatal workplace injuries in the UK.

Sam Jenkin from WorkSafe said that injuries are not solely caused by heavy lifting:

“Anything that involves awkward postures, repetitive movement or sustained force can place excessive strain on the body and lead to serious injuries which are often debilitating over the long-term.”

In the food manufacturing industry, for example, repetitive tasks including labelling, packaging, and sealing bottles can cause musculoskeletal injuries.

Common manual handling injuries are back injuries and musculoskeletal disorders sustained by poor lifting techniques, awkward postures or repetitive strain. Compensation claims for severe injuries caused by inadequate manual handling techniques can be substantial.

Manual handling injuries can have a long-term, debilitating effect on workers, but they are preventable when adequate systems are put in place, equipment, risk assessments and training. For instance, a good warehouse equipment manufacturer makes ergonomic manual handling equipment designed to move heavy items without undue strain.

Employers have a legal obligation to review all handling tasks to understand the risk level.

WorkSafe online courses equip manual handling instructors with the knowledge and resources to deliver the half-day Manual Handling Awareness qualification, where staff learn to identify the safety risks of manual handling. The course features practical guides on safer handling principles. It complies with the Health & Safety Executive Guidelines for Manual Handling at Work.

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