HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
1 / 11
Revision history
Rev Date Description of Change
Approval Authority:
Owner Developer Reviewer Approver
Summary
The purpose of this work instruction is to establish the minimum requirements for
protecting the hearing of personnel engaged in or associated with SOCOMENIN
activities.
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
2 / 11
1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this work instruction is to establish the minimum requirements
for protecting personnel engaged manual handling activities associated with
SOCOMENIN activities.
2.0 SCOPE
This work instruction applies to all Office and Project activities.
3.0 DEFINITIONS
Manual handling: Movement of loads by human effort being applied either
directly or indirectly to a load including lifting, lowering, pushing,
pulling/hauling, carrying, throwing, dropping. Mechanical assistance, such as a
sack truck, may reduce, but not eliminate manual handling
4.0 RESPONSIBILITIES
It shall be the responsibility of Managers to ensure that the requirements of this
work instruction are adhered to.
It shall be the responsibility of all supervisory personnel to ensure that all
employees comply with the requirements of this work instruction.
It shall be the responsibility of the Project Safety Representative to ensure that
the requirements of these work instructions are implemented, monitor
conformance to these requirements and provide management with feedback on
non-compliance issues and methods for improvement.
All personnel shall be responsible for adhering to this work instruction and not
undertaking any manual handling activities that may cause themselves or
others harm.
5.0 WORK INSTRUCTIONS
5.1 Requirements
The requirements of this work instruction are based upon the principle that
employees shall not undertake any manual handling activities with the potential
to cause harm, unless they have, in the first instance, been assessed for risk.
Where the risk assessment identifies it to be necessary, prior to an activity
being undertaken, appropriate training shall be provided in the use of correct
lifting and handling techniques and aids for all employees engaged in those
activities, regardless of the duration of the activity.
Each project/office shall maintain a list of activities involving manual handling
and provide training that shall include training on the adverse effects of poor
manual handling techniques, the proper use of lifting and handling aids, and the
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
3 / 11
proper manual handling techniques in the new employee orientation and shall
review the information from time to time in tool box meetings.
5.2 Hazard Determination & Risk Assessment
When information indicates that any employees may be exposed to manual
handling hazards, a rectification program shall be developed and implemented.
This program will be used to determine which employees are exposed and to
provide instruction on the correct manual handling techniques and correct use
of lifting and handling aids where appropriate.
There is a clear hierarchy of measures for dealing with risks from manual
handling. These are:
Eliminate or avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as
reasonably practicable.
Assess any hazardous manual handling operations so far as reasonably
practicable.
Implement control measures to reduce the risk of injury so far as
reasonably practicable.
Assessments should be conducted by competent persons following the Manual
Handling Risk Assessment procedure.
5.3 Good Handling Techniques
The first principle of a good manual handling technique is to decide whether a
task needs to be performed at all. It is important to consider mechanisation
and the use of handling aids, but be aware of the new hazards that may be
introduced from the use of these devices.
5.3.1 Lifting, Lowering & Carrying
a) Think before lifting/handling:
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
4 / 11
Plan the lift.
How heavy is the load?
Is the load secure?
Is it evenly weighted?
Can it be easily gripped?
Can handling aids be used?
Where is the load going to be placed?
Is the route clear?
Is the route long? (consider half way point to rest)
Will help be needed with the load?
Remove obstructions such as discarded wrapping materials
b) Keep the load close to the waist
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
5 / 11
Keep the load close to the body for as long as possible during the lift
Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body
If a close approach is not possible, try to slide the load toward the body
before attempting to lift it.
c) Adopt a stable position
The feet shall be apart with one leg slightly forward to maintain balance
(alongside the load if it is on the ground).
The lifter shall be prepared to move their feet during the lift to maintain
stability
Avoid tight clothing or unsuitable footwear which may restrict movement or
affect balance.
d) Get a good hold
Where possible the load shall be hugged as close as possible to the body.
This may be better than gripping it tightly with hands only.
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
6 / 11
e) Start in a good posture.
At the start of the lift, slight bending of the back, hips and knees is preferably
to fully flexing the back (stooping). Or, fully flexing the hips and knees
(squatting).
f) Don’t flex the back any further while lifting.
This can happen if the legs begin to straighten before starting to raise the
load.
g) Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways…
…especially while the back is bent
Shoulders should be kept level and facing in the same direction as the hips.
Turning by moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same
time.
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
7 / 11
h) Keep the head up when handling
Look ahead, not down at the load, once it has been held securely.
i) Move smoothly
The load should not be jerked or snatched as this can make it harder to keep
control and can increase the risk of injury.
j) Don’t lift or handle more than can be easily managed
There is a difference between what people can lift and what they can safely
lift.
If in doubt, seek advice or get help.
k) Put down then adjust
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
8 / 11
If precise positioning of the load is necessary, put it down first, then slide it into
the desired position.
5.3.2 Pushing & Pulling
a) Handling devices.
Aides such as barrows and trolleys should have handle heights that are between
the shoulder and waist. Devices should be well maintained with wheels that ru
smoothly. When purchasing new equipment ensure they are of good quality
with large diameter wheels made of suitable material and with castors, bearings
etc which will last with minimum maintenance. Consultation with your
employees and safety representatives will help.
b) Force
As a rough guide, the amount of force that needs to be applied to move a load
over a flat, level surface using a well maintained handling aid is at least 2% of
the load weight. The force needed will be a lot larger if the conditions are not
perfect (wheel maintenance, surface resistance, gradient etc). The operator
should try to push rather than pull when moving a load, providing they can see
over it and control steering and stopping.
c) Slopes
Employees should enlist help from another worker whenever necessary if they
have to negotiate a slope or ramp, as pushing and pulling forces can be very
high.
d) Uneven surfaces
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
9 / 11
Moving an object over soft or uneven surfaces requires higher forces. On an
uneven surface, the force needed to start the load moving could increase to
10% of the load weight, although this might be offset to some extent by larger
wheels. On soft ground the situation will be worse.
e) Stance & pace
To make it easier to push or pull, employees should keep their feet well away
from the load and go no faster than walking speed. This will prevent them from
becoming tired too quickly.
5.4 Lifting & Handling Aids
Mechanical lifting and handling aides shall be provided wherever it is reasonably
practicable to do so and the risks identified by means of risk assessment can be
eliminated or reduced by their introduction. It should be remembered that the
introduction of these aides may have a positive effect upon productivity as well
as safety, but be aware of the new hazards that may be introduced from the use
of these devices.
It is important that the mechanical aides are appropriate to the task and work
environment. Some examples are shown in Table 5.1
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
10 / 11
Table 5.1
5.5 Training
Managers shall ensure that no member of their team undertake manual
handling risk assessments unless competent to do so. They shall also ensure
that personnel undertaking manual handling activities shall receive appropriate
information, instruction and training.
Each employee that may be exposed to manual handling activities will receive
initial and annual training on:
Manual handling risk factors and how injuries can occur
HSE Department Réf:
MANUAL HAANDLING PROCEDURE Date: 11/12
Rev: 01
11 / 11
How to carry out safe manual handling, including good handling techniques
Appropriate systems of work for the individual’s tasks and environment
Use of mechanical aides
Practical demonstrations and exercises to allow the trainer to identify and
rectify any incorrect or unsafe techniques.
Instructions on the correct use of lifting and handling techniques and aides.
5.6 Record Retention
Records of training shall be retained for no less than 6 years after the event
and shall be recorded electronically on their personnel files including the dates
of training, results of any assessments undertaken and the name of the
instructor.
