Manual Handling

Manual Handling

There are numerous activities at our events that involve lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling – also known as ‘manual handling’. Most of these tasks are like those that we do in our everyday life. However, some of them we may have to do more frequently when at events or may involve larger, heavier, or more awkward loads. Others may involve movement over longer distances or the need to negotiate changes in level that we may not be faced with at home. For these reasons, some tasks will present a risk of injury to the person performing them, such as muscular strains or the spraining of joints. There will be occasions where sharp items may need to be handled, such as a broken item, presenting a risk of cuts/lacerations if handled directly.

Because of the above-mentioned risks, we provide the following advice to help avoid accidents or injuries.

People are different!

The ability to carry out physical work such as manual handling will vary between people, e.g. with age, sex, fitness, etc. and also for the same person over time, e.g. as they age, become more or less fit, suffer injuries or illness.

• Do not assume that everyone is capable of a particular task just because one person is able to carry it out easily.
• In general young persons, less physically fit persons, and people with lighter physiques can handle less, in a safe manner, than a comparable mature, fit, physically strong person.

Certain conditions can make persons more susceptible to manual handling injuries, even if they might otherwise be considered likely to be capable of a particular task. These include;

• Pregnancy and nursing,
• Any existing upper limb problems
• Any existing back problems
• Hernia, etc.