Most construction workers have to undertake some lifting and moving, this toolbox talk is about identifying the hazards and eliminating them. As well as preventing musculoskeletal injury
Musculoskeletal hazards include any job that you do that involves manually handling something like: Digging Pushing and pulling Not just lifting You can damage your back by working in an awkward posture, for example even if you lift an item that isn t particularly heavy. If you don t lift correctly you could injure your back
The areas of your body that are most at risk are the Back Neck Knees Shoulders You are more at risk when its cold, as your body is more prone to injury. When you play sport you probably warm up first, to prevent injury, but we tend not to do that when we are at work The risk is also greater if you have been away from work for 2 or more weeks, as we tend to relax more and not use our muscles in the same way, meaning they start to tighten up, then when you get back to work you expect everything to function as it did before And when you are working under pressure, for example trying to meet deadlines, maybe cutting corners, perhaps trying to load yourself up rather than make two trips A bit of forward planning can reduce some of the problems
The warning signs that you may have a problem are: Pain Tingling or numbness There may be a burning sensation Shooting or stabbing pains Some stiffness Swelling or inflammation and Aching You may suffer: Twinges Strains and sprains Muscles spasms The advice used to be to lie on a hard surface for a few days, but now it is best to keep active, try to move around and keep the muscles warm It is likely that a construction operative lifts about the equivalent of a London taxi each day!
Remember Manual handling is anything that you do in the way of: Lifting Carrying Pushing pulling its where we use our muscles. For example Shovelling concrete, pulling a lever, carrying a ladder or operating a power tool So what can you do to prevent injury? Well firstly avoid manual handling if you can, use mechanical handling equipment where possible use the right tools for the job Good housekeeping helps, i.e. keep routes clear so you don t have to maneuver round things Plan work ie get materials delivered to point of use And as mentioned previously warm up before lifting, and avoid stretching and twisting
If you cannot avoid manual handling make sure you adopt a stable position: The feet should be apart with one leg slightly forward to maintain balance alongside the load, where it is on the ground, with the foot pointing in the direction you re going Be prepared to move your feet during the lift to maintain stability Get a grip on the load, where possible the load should be hugged as close as possible to the body At the start of the lift, maintain a good posture: Keep the back straight with knees bent, this is much safer then stooping or squatting Don t flex the back any further while lifting. This can happen if the legs begin to straighten before starting to raise the load
To prevent problems it is important you use the correct technique, other things to consider are to: Breath in and tighten tummy muscles before lifting as this helps support the spine Use your legs Lift slowly and smoothly Don t carry a load which obscures your vision Avoid jerky movements Avoid twisting your body when lifting or carrying a load When lifting to a height from the floor, do it in two stages. When two or more people lift a load, one person must take control to co-ordinate the lift Remember Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways, especially while the back is bent Shoulders should be kept level and facing in the same direction as the hips Turning by moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time Keep the head up when handling. Look ahead, not down at the load, once it has been held securely Move smoothly. The load should not be jerked or snatched as this can make it harder to keep control and can increase the risk of injury Don t lift or handle more than can be easily managed. There is a difference between what people can lift and what they can safely lift If in doubt, seek advice or get help. If necessary put the object down, then adjust
If you have any questions about anything raised in this TBT then please speak to you Manager, contact your GP or call the CBH helpline Thanks for listening today