Let’s talk about manual handling training and why is it so essential?

Let’s talk about manual handling training and why is it so essential?

To start things off, a lack of manual handling training is responsible for more than a third of all injuries that occur within the workplace, as well as a high amount of injuries that arise within the home. This is a serious problem to have.

Problems that can occur from root causes such as bad lifting and carrying, for example, can include anything from short term to long-term problems over a person’s’ life. Repetitive strain injuries are also a concern in regards to heavy lifting on a regular basis which in turn, can lead to lifelong mobility and comfort complications.

Why is it crucial to incorporate the best manual handling training? 

With any injuries, manual handling specifically, these injuries can have significant implications for both employer and employee. As injuries are most likely to occur within industrial environments, such as warehouses, they are also very common in working environments such as offices and retail stores.

In order to avoid developing problems with pains of the muscles and aches, it is essential that employees understand what they need to act upon in order to continuously engage with heavy objects safely and do not put any strain on sensitive such as the spine.

What safety measurements to consider when lifting and carrying within your working environment?

You should always take many features into consideration when analysing lifting or carrying activity such as an individuals health levels, to the size and quantity of the load and the levels of training that is required and have been instigated within the company.

If available, lifting heavy objects with mechanical equipment will allow employees to relieve their bodies of excessive objects. However, not all companies have a handy forklift or conveyor belt so with that in mind, it is crucial to ensure that all manual handling events are performed in the most functional and safest approach possible.

Hints and tips for managing manual handling at home

• If possible, reduce the amount of twisting, stooping and reaching. This will reduce the risk of spraining or dropping objects onto yourself.
• Consider breaking down heavy objects, or splitting the weight between multiple people. This will ensure teamwork and also lower the risk of an accident if you are around other people.
• Avoiding manual handling from floor level or above shoulders height. By avoiding this action you will eliminate possible events such as sprains, possible breakages and injury to the back.

Of course, these are just a few things to consider before you begin to manually lift or handle heavy components and loads. Where possible, always try to optimise your available space and ensure that there are no obstructions which will become a problem when in transit.

Every year, accidents are continuously causing many different types of injuries within the workplace and can lead to an average of 20 days off for every employee injured within the organisation. In many injury cases, particularly in events such as trips, slips or falls from a great height, the employee obtains the threat of never fully recovering from the circumstance.

Every industry across the globe goes through the suffering of immense impact of huge setbacks and costs as an end result of employee injuries within the workplace. This can conclude in the organisations brand being damaged, as well as the reputation of work produced and productivity and ofcourse the lasting effects of the employees, if manual handling education is not offered.

Here at Kalu, we believe in the safety and security of your employees within the workplace and have produced a training scheme for anyone to access. This is a worthy course to apply for and learn from, reaping in the benefits of safety and the possible severe outcomes and equipment you might not of been aware of.