Why is safety important when moving and handling materials

Unstable or can shift its centre of gravity because it contains material that can flow e. 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. Does not take appropriate rest breaks; insufficient recovery time.

Has a combination of handling tasks e. 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 that causes slip, trip and fall hazards. Use containers made of lighter materials. Reduce load sizes when possible. Do not twist or bend while lifting objects. Ensure repetitive, heavy and bulky lifts are not performed. Keep lifts between shoulder and knuckle height.

Use conveyors, slides or chutes to eliminate pushing or pulling. Related Articles Trends in Legally, employers have a responsibility to ensure that steps are taken to reduce the risks from manual handling as low as reasonably practicable. Safe manual handling techniques tend to focus on the initial lift, and it is important to get this stage of the process right. Bent legs, straight back, load close to the body, avoiding strain on the muscles of the back. However, safe manual handling should not stop there, it is important to also consider what your carrying, and where you are carrying it to.

For example, the heaviest side of the load should be closest to your body to minimise strain when carrying, and you should grip the load with your palms, rather than your fingers. Safe manual handling techniques are important because the right technique can significantly reduce the risk of injury. Find out more about how to lift safely in our blog post, how to correct your manual handling technique.

Manual handling training and knowing how to lift is a good place to start when practising safe manual handling. But, no matter how good your technique is, if you try to lift a load that is too heavy for your capabilities, you are at risk of injury.

The first rule of manual handling is to eliminate manual handling. That's right. Because there is no safer way to handle something, than not to handle it at all!

It's not always possible, but if you can eliminate manual handling, you should. This might be possible by having materials delivered to their place of use, or installing equipment like conveyor belts. It's not always possible to eliminate manual handling, and often it will be necessary. In this case, and especially if there is a risk of injury, it is important to complete a manual handling risk assessment. This will allow you to assess the load, the individual, the task and the environment LITE.

Once you have considered the hazards and specifics of your manual handling task, you can decide if extra safety measures are needed. Like mechanical aids or a team lift. Handles or holders should be attached to loads to reduce the chances of getting fingers pinched or smashed. Workers also should use appropriate protective equipment. For loads with sharp or rough edges, wear gloves or other hand and forearm protection. In addition, to avoid injuries to the eyes, use eye protection.

When the loads are heavy or bulky, the mover also should wear steel-toed safety shoes or boots to prevent foot injuries if he or she slips or accidentally drops a load.

All stacked loads must be correctly piled and cross-tiered, where possible. Precautions also should be taken when stacking and storing material.

Stored materials must not create a hazard. Storage areas must be kept free from accumulated materials that cause tripping, fires, or explosions, or that may contribute to the harboring of rats and other pests. Non-compatible material must be separated in storage. Employees who work on stored materials in silos, hoppers, or tanks, must be equipped with lifelines and safety belts. All bound material should be stacked, placed on racks, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent it from sliding, falling, or collapsing.

A load greater than that approved by a building official may not be placed on any floor of a building or other structure. Where applicable, load limits approved by the building inspector should be conspicuously posted in all storage areas. When stacking materials, height limitations should be observed. For example, lumber must be stacked no more than 16 feet high if it is handled manually; 20 feet is the maximum stacking height if a forklift is used.

For quick reference, walls or posts may be painted with stripes to indicate maximum stacking heights. Used lumber must have all nails removed before stacking. Lumber must be stacked and leveled on solidly supported bracing.

The stacks must be stable and self-supporting. Stacks of loose bricks should not be more than 7 feet in height. When these stacks reach a height of 4 feet, they should be tapered back 2 inches for every foot of height above the 4-foot level.

When masonry blocks are stacked higher than 6 feet, the stacks should be tapered back one-half block for each tier above the 6-foot level. Bags and bundles must be stacked in interlocking rows to remain secure. Bagged material must be stacked by stepping back the layers and cross-keying the bags at least every ten layers. To remove bags from the stack, start from the top row first.

Baled paper and rags stored inside a building must not be closer than 18 inches to the walls, partitions, or sprinkler heads. Boxed materials must be banded or held in place using cross-ties or shrink plastic fiber. Drums, barrels, and kegs must be stacked symmetrically. If stored on their sides, the bottom tiers must be blocked to keep them from rolling. When stacked on end, put planks, sheets of plywood dunnage, or pallets between each tier to make a firm, flat, stacking surface.

When stacking materials two or more tiers high, the bottom tier must be chocked on each side to prevent shifting in either direction. When stacking, consider the need for availability of the material.

Material that cannot be stacked due to size, shape, or fragility can be safely stored on shelves or in bins. Structural steel, bar stock, poles, and other cylindrical materials, unless in racks, must be stacked and blocked to prevent spreading or tilting. Pipes and bars should not be stored in racks that face main aisles; this could create a hazard to passers-by when removing supplies.