FUGRO GEOTECHNICS VIETNAM LLC

Title: MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONS Effective date :

20/12/2010

Planning

1. When conveying heavy, bulky or awkward objects is necessary, the relevant

TCH/Supervisor/Team Leader with the assistance of the Administration Department and
Safety Department if necessary, shall analyse the work procedures, assess the risks and
have a well planning before the conveying process.

2. The TCH/Supervisor/Team Leader shall plan the conveying process by completing the
Manual Handling Operation Plan SF15. The planning should at least include:

 checking the shapes, sizes, weights and centre of gravity of the loads and the
moving distance;
 identifying the potential hazards and determining the preventive measures, e.g.
determining the number of persons, appropriate machinery and personal
protective equipment required to move the loads;
 ensuring that there are no obstacles along the way.

3. The TCH/Supervisor/Team Leader shall communicate the planning, the potential hazards
and preventive measures to all the staff involved before the conveying process.

4. The TCH/Supervisor/Team Leader should closely monitor the conveying process to ensure
that it is carried out as planned and in a safe manner.

5. The Manual Handling Operation Plan SF15 shall be maintained by the Safety Department
properly.

Common Causes of Manual Handling Injuries

 Overloading of the upper and lower back. For example, lifting or holding of too heavy objects

 Improper posture during work. For example:

 stooping
 reaching upwards
 sideways bending
 twisting

 Manipulating loads away from the trunk

 Loss of balance while lifting

 Unexpected weight bearing

 Restricted room to manoeuvre

Document No.: S-W-004 Revision 1 Page 1 of 4

FUGRO GEOTECHNICS VIETNAM LLC

Title: MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONS Effective date :

20/12/2010

 Inadequate grip on heavy, awkward, hot, sharp or slippery objects

 Slippery, uneven floors or having obstructions in the transport routes

 Uncoordinated team lifting or weight shifting to one party

 Lifting a heavy or bulky load beyond one's capability

 Frequent or prolonged repetitive movements, such as stooping, twisting the trunk,

stretching, twisting the wrist or neck, etc.

 Too fast work pace

 Insufficient rest or recovery periods

Guidance for Correct Manual Handling

The tasks

 Use correct posture to lift or lower loads

 start close to the object;

 bend knees, squat down, straddle the load somewhat, keep the back straight;
 grasp the object firmly so that your grip will not slip;
 hold the object close to the body and lift with the legs, slowly straightening them.
After the legs are straight bring back to vertical position;
 always lift smoothly and avoid jerky motions. Turn with the feet and never twist
your back.

 Make use of mechanical aids, such as trolleys, conveyor belts or tail lifts to help handling
goods.

 Avoid repetitive handling of loads so as to reduce manual handling requirements.

 Properly arrange the distribution of work force in team lifting. Every member should obey the
instructions of the team leader.

 Store heavier or frequently used items at a position where they can be easily accessed in
shelf stocking. The optimum position is around waist height.

 Improve the design of workstations and position frequently used materials in front of
employees to reduce the need for twisting or stretching.

 Work at the correct height. The height of workstations should allow most of the work to be
performed at around elbow level. Using adjustable chairs can avoid stooping; using
stable foot platforms can avoid reaching upwards frequently.

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FUGRO GEOTECHNICS VIETNAM LLC

Title: MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONS Effective date :

20/12/2010

 Give employees a variety of tasks or provide them with sufficient recovery time to avoid
prolonged repetitive movements.

 Do not stack goods too high during transportation to avoid blocking the front view, which
may increase the risk of hitting objects or tripping.

 Work at an appropriate pace can relieve the stresses in muscles and reduce the chances of
hand and wrist injuries.

 Automate the handling systems to reduce the need for manual handling and make
operations more efficient.

The loads

 Make the load lighter, change its size or shape, or make it easier to grasp by adding
handholds or hand-grips.

 Make the load more stable so that it will not shift unexpectedly while being handled.

 Make the load less damaging to hold. Avoid sharp corners, jagged edges, too hot, cold or
rough surfaces.

 Provide suitable protective gloves for handling of goods which cannot be made less
damaging to hold.

 Provide sufficient information of the load to the operators, such as its weight or its centre of
gravity.

The working environment

 Provide sufficient space for manoeuvring loads.

 Keep the transport routes clear of obstructions, spilled water, oil or slippery substances
which may increase the likelihood of slip, trip or fall.

 Improve uneven or unstable floors.

 If long period standing is required, place a shock absorbent mat on the floor to mitigate leg
muscle fatigue; or provide as far as possible a high chair for employees so that they can
choose to work while seated.

 Maintain comfortable temperature and humidity in the workplace. If manual handling is to be

performed in a cold area, proper personal protective clothing should be provided and
used.

 Provide adequate ventilation. Beware of high winds or powerful ventilation systems which
make large loads more difficult to manage safely.

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FUGRO GEOTECHNICS VIETNAM LLC

Title: MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONS Effective date :

20/12/2010

 Provide sufficient lighting to reduce the risk of hitting objects or tripping.

Individual capability

 Assess the capabilities of the employees concerned and assign suitable manual handling
operations to them based on their capabilities.

 Provide the employees concerned with relevant health and safety training so that manual
handling operations can be safely performed.

Other matters

 Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight and provide, if necessary, well fitting personal
protective equipment to prevent the hindering of correct postures and movements.

 Ensure that mechanical aids such as wheels of trolleys are regularly repaired and
maintained to reduce the effort required when using.

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