The Key Principles of Lifting and Handling Hazardous Objects Safely

1. The Key Principles of Lifting and Handling Hazardous Objects Safely Having to work with heavy objects, lifting and handling them on a daily basis can create a myriad of health problems for workers over time. In the UK, about 1.8 million people have some sort of work- related ailment, with about half a million suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Comparatively, the US has had about 2.6 million non-fatal injuries across all sectors. Avoiding these injuries is not just about providing manual handling training, but about understanding the importance of safely and implementing in within the organisational culture as well as its work practices. A key aspect to understand is that most—if not all—accidents are easily preventable. Accidents are bound to happen, yes, but many of them can be a result of negligence or incompetence rather than anything else. Principles of Lifting and Handling Hazardous To that end, here are a few key principles for lifting loads and hazardous objects that employees can follow.

2. Employees Should be Trained on Safe Lifting Practices The first and most important part of the process is to have proper procedures and safety measures to follow. That means the safety processes that a worker has to align their work with need to be clearly defined and put in writing. This process also includes the proper and organized method of providing the training and insight needed to be able to fully understand the processes. Instructions without implementation and oversight only leave room for considerable problems down the line. Take All Manual Handling Activities into Consideration Any employee conducting manual handling work has to be mindful about the object or equipment they are handling. They need to consider its weight, the distance they might have to carry the item, picking it up and putting it down, and the frequency of these activities. When it comes to daily work practices, the idea is to stop well before the threshold of what one can handle, because straining oneself everyday is an unsustainable work practice. Employees Should Only Lift What is Safe for Them Employees need to first determine if a manual handling task can be carried out safely without over- exerting themselves. This is especially important for repetitive tasks which the employee might have to carry out daily or even multiple times a day. Consider How Risk Can Be Reduced A manual handling task can be made less risky through lifting aids, considering relocating the place of work, or even asking for someone else’s help. Employees need to assess the risk and determine a way of reducing or eliminating it before deeming a manual operation as wholly unsafe.

3. Averting risk in manual handling can also mean that changing or reassessing the task to avoid any lifting entirely. If that isn’t possible, rearranging the task can also reduce the overall risk. Assess the Load and Its Nature Sometimes it is possible to break a load into pieces to help with relocating it somewhere else. Employees should ask themselves if the load could also be put in a box or a container that is much easier to carry or move. A hazardous load might have special containers to transport it and might require extra care, in which case additional precaution can be better than risking an accident. Asses the Route The route for carrying the load should be free of obstructions and anything else that is in the way. Additionally, the necessity for PPE, checking for blind corners, bright lights, and any other potential hurdles needs to be determined as well. Uneven surfaces for hazardous liquids, for example, can lead to dangerous outcomes. Plan Out Each Step Beforehand Both employees and employers need to determine the steps and processes in conducting manual handling operations. Should the load be lifted, pulled, or pushed? Should there be any assistance by another personnel? What are the potential hazards of this task and how are they covered? These questions should be part of the planning process, and should be accounted for before the task begins. Mistakes Will Happen – Plan Accordingly A good safety procedure does not just rely on a person avoiding danger, but also has systems in place to deal with hazards when the accident has already occurred. A proper plan involves caution and attention to detail, understanding the steps of the process and looking at where things can go wrong. Pre-Use Inspections of All Safety Equipment is Mandatory The use of Personally Protective Equipment (PPE) is necessary in most cases of handling hazardous material. However, even more important is ensuring that the safety equipment is free of any defects in the first place. Safety harnesses and such safety equipment must always be checked before use, and if an equipment has any defects, it has to be deemed unsuitable for use. It is not recommended to use any safety equipment that has even a single defect. Posture Can Prevent Future Illnesses

4. Having proper posture when conducting manual handling work or even in general can be an excellent practice. Lifting from the back, avoiding strain and long periods of stretches, and standing up straight are all important ergonomic practices that should be made. Conclusion Lifting operations carry an inherent risk, and hazardous objects add additional risk on top of that. While most of the manual handling practices need to be followed here, PPE and additional precautions are some of the most recommended practices for employees to consider.