Occupational Health, Health Surveillance, Manual Handling Training

Making the Best use of Lifting and Handling Aids

January 11, 2020
By Jack Latus

Frequent and heavy lifting and handling can cause back injuries.

Using lifting and handling aids can remove or reduce that risk and keep workers healthy and at work. This guidance is intended for managers, employees and their representatives and others involved in the selection of lifting and handling aids.

Why are back injuries an issue?

Back injuries from manual handling are a major cause of occupational ill health in the UK.

Case study From HSE

In one year, a firm lost 370 working days because of manual handling injuries. This cost about £24000 in wages paid to absent workers.

There were additional overtime payments and other costs. The introduction of handling aids, manual handling training, and a rehabilitation programme reduced days lost to 74 and wage costs to about £5000.

But:

■ They can often be prevented;

■ Preventative measures can be cost-effective;

■ Where back injuries occur, early reporting of symptoms, proper treatment and suitable rehabilitation is essential. There are health and safety benefits for employers if they control manual handling risks by the use of lifting and handling aids such as:

■ Improved/maintained productivity;

■ Reduction in retraining costs;

■ Limiting the options for liability;

■ Reduction of injury/ill health to employees.