People might groan at the mention of health and safety, but accidents can and do happen at work with alarming frequency. And most of them are perfectly avoidable. Manual handling must be managed properly. Poor technique and a lack of awareness can lead people to taking on too much when they try and carry something, which ends up with them hurting themselves. Whatever the load is, it always pays to use a truck or a trolley instead of trying to carry it.
First things first, any organisation must give workers access to basic manual handling awareness training. Not everyone works in an office. In factories and warehouses up and down the country, people are moving goods and stock around all day long. They need to know how to do this sensibly and safely. If someone hurts their back they could be off work for weeks. This can of absence is costly and difficult to manage. Every worker needs a good grounding in basic manual handling, even if it’s just a simple online course. The last thing any business should do is let someone loose in this environment without adequate training. They could do some real harm, to themselves and other workers.
As well as offering training it’s essential to carry out regular risk assessments as well. This will highlight any issues or problems early so they can be corrected. Poor technique and bad habits might not result in issues straight away, but left unchecked then chances are something will go wrong. Risk assessments give organisations vital data that they can act upon to reduce workplace hazards.
When it comes to material handling there are all kinds of pieces of equipment that people can use that make life easier and safer. Manual handling should be avoided wherever possible. If lifting equipment is available then workers should make use of it. It’s much safer to load and transport using a trolley or some sort of truck than it is to try and pick it up. Not only is it safer, it’s much more efficient too.
Every business needs to find a supplier of this kind of equipment. That way staff can work safely and efficiently to move things around, no matter how big or heavy the load. Good manual handling practice, combined with the right equipment can keep accidents to a minimum. That means a better workplace for everyone.
Staff should never underestimate the potential risks involved when carrying and lifting. It’s all too easy to have an accident or sustain an injury tackling a task that could simply be redesigned. By working with suppliers of handling and lifting equipment, any business can ensure they have a fleet of trucks and trolleys for moving things about. There’s no need to take a chance or overburden staff when transporting stock and goods around the depot or the warehouse.
Any business that has experienced issues with manual handling should review their current arrangements. Chances are problems could be put right with a combination of awareness training, regular risk assessment and some new equipment. Moving heavy items around can be a cause of safety issues, but there’s a simple, straightforward and cost effective solution to these problems. And a safer workplace is better for business. It’s more efficient and people are less likely to be absent with a workplace related injury.
About the Author: Neil Jones is a freelance writer living in Spain. He writes articles on a huge variety of topics, from industrial trucks and trolleys to DIY, with such sites as http://www.trucksandtrolleysdirect.co.uk/ offering valuable insights.