13February 2008
TOOL BOX TALK
Topic: MANUAL HANDLING
Introduction
Over 20% of all accidents occurring in the construction industry each year
involve injuries sustained whilst manually lifting and handling materials or
equipment. Similar to other construction industries, our RGX-II project involves
lifting and manual handling to some extent; it is an unavoidable task in our
business. Although we were using mechanical lifting means wherever
practicable, some of the works will inevitably continue to be done manually. For
example handling of shuttering materials, scaffold planks handling, scaff tube
handling, blocks, steel in small quantity, cement bags, paint drums, etc.
Our backbone acts for all manual handlings. It remains working 24 hours a day,
participates in almost every move we makes. Because of its workload it is prone
to get injured. Improper handling can cause acute injury and chronic effects to
the backbone.
Preventing back injury is a major challenge. Only 3% of the people receive
training and 97% receives medical treatment world wide.
By learning the correct way of manual handling we can avoid all those problems.
Hazards
 Strain and sprain to body parts due to awkward movements
 Cuts and abrasions from rough surfaces
 Crushing of limbs by falling objects
 Back injuries
 Repetitive movements
 Incorrect lifting techniques
 Slips, trips and falls due to the obstructions in the area
Plan your lift
Before attempting to move or lift a load, think about how heavy the object is,
how far it has to be moved, where it’s going to end up with, is the route clear
and whether you need some one for help. Knowing where you are going will
prevent you from making awkward movements while holding something heavy.
RGX-II Project
Use Kinetic Lifting Method
This method will help us to lift a load easy and safely. First bend your knees and
approach the load without inclining the back. Keep your back straight and grasp
the load with one hand and secure with other hand. Both arms should well
tucked-in to provide maximum support to the load.
Then lift the load by straightening the legs so that the body and the load move
upwards in unison. Remember the movement should be smooth and natural –
avoid jerking, twisting.
Carry the load firmly close to the body as much as possible to simplifying the
counter balance to keep the muscular effort down to a minimum.
Through out the process maintain your hand grips with the load in the same
position. Do not change the grip while traveling with a load, if necessary, rest
the load on a ledge or other firm support then change the grip.
Team Lift
When large or awkward weights are involved, assistance should be sought. The
assistant should be of similar height and build so that the raised load does not
become unbalanced or unevenly distributed. Coordination is important in team
lifting. Only one person should give directions during lifting, carrying and
lowering.
Control Measures
 Plan before you lift
 Ensure the route is clear and free of hazards
 Get firm grip on the object
 Let your muscles to lift, not your back
 Keep your back straight and avoid twisting when carrying or lifting loads
 If it seems heavy, seek for help
 Never use your back bone to lift, use your legs
 Use mechanical aids wherever required
 Use all additional PPEs as per MSDS while handling chemical substances
(e.g. Face Mask, Chemical Gloves, Respirator etc.)
 Follow all lifting techniques
 Do regular physical exercises
 13February 2008

‘LET YOUR MUSCLES TO LIFT, NOT YOUR BACK’