Employees’ Guide toManualHandling

F U R N I T U R E

Y O U ‘ L L L I K E W H A T Y O U F I N D

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This booklet outlines the principles for reducing the risk of injury from manual handling, but the information it contains does not necessary describe specific situations you may encounter. Always follow your employer’s health and safety policies and ask your supervisor or manager for safety advice, including how to avoid unnecessary manual handling.

What is manual handling?It’s lifting and moving things by using your handsor bodily force. You need to learn the right way to lift and move things to help reduce the risk of accidents and injuries like these

Strains and sprainsMuscles and joints can be injured if you dotoo much.

FracturesDropping a heavy load can break bones.

WoundsHandling sharp rough surfaces can cut and bruise your skin.

HerniasThe strain of lifting can cause painful ruptures in your stomach muscles.

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Why do I need to know about manual handling?Employers and employees share responsibilityfor preventing accidents and injuriesfrom manual handling.

Your employer’sresponsibilitiesinclude the following.n Carrying out a risk assessment

and providing mechanical aids, such as a trolley, where necessary.

n Providing information and training on safe systems of work.

n Providing supervision and guidance to make sure correct procedures are followed.

Your responsibilitiesinclude the following.n Going on all training courses and

using what you know at all times.n Using the mechanical aids

provided and following safe systems of work.

n Telling your employer about any medical conditions that could affect your ability to handle loads for example pregnancy, illness or injury.

n Reporting any hazards to your supervisor or manager.

It takes a team effort to organise safe systems for manual handling. Do your part to reduce accidents and injury.

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Prevent pain,injury and damage.Follow these basic tips to prevent accidents.

Think before you begin.Check with your supervisor or manager the safe way to lift.See if you can lift the load using mechanical aids when they are available. Always use mechanical aids when they are available.

How heavy might the load be?Decide whether you can lift the load safely.Check the packaging for information about the weight and whether the load is equally balanced. If the load has no information about its contents on it, test the weight before attempting to lift it. If you have any concerns, talk to your manager or supervisor before attempting to move the load.

Examine the object.Look for any sharp edges. Consider whether the object can be moved move safely if it is divided into smaller loads.

Plan the jobCheck the route you will take when you are carrying the load for steps or other things that may be a hazard.Find out where the object will be unloaded and, if necessary, plan ‘rest stops’ along the way and between loads.

Get a good grip.Decide beforehand how to hold the object. Protect your hands and feet by gripping the load firmly. If you wear gloves to prevent cuts or burns, make sure they fit properly and don’t slip.

Get help.Get help if you have any doubt about moving an object yourself.

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Wear suitable clothing.n Your clothes should allow you to

move freely but not be so loose they could snag or get in the way.

n Footwear should provide support and protection, be stable and have non-slip soles.

n If personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed, make sure it doesn’t interfere with your ability to handle loads safely. For example, make sure gloves fit well and allow you to have a firm grip.

Rest, or rotate tasks.Avoid becoming overtired. Frequent lifting, lowering and moving is demanding work, and can cause stress to the muscles and joints. Take short rests regularly, and do other tasks between moving items if you can.

Ask for advice.Do not hesitate to discuss anything you aren’t sure about with your supervisor or manager.

Take extra care.You should make the load lighter, for example, by dividing it into smaller loads, if:n it is too heavy or too bign it goes below your knees or

above your shoulders, orn you have to straighten your arms

to carry it.Otherwise it might block your view or put more pressure on your back.While carrying the load avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways if possible. Move your feet instead.

Keep handsin the clear!Be careful not to crush your fingers when you are putting things down.

You and your supervisor or manager are both responsible for preventing accidents. Always check if you are not sure about a situation.

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1. Think before you do anything. Examine the box or load first. Make sure it’s not damaged and won’t split or break when you carry it.2. Stand as close to the load as possible.3. Stand in a stable position with

your feet apart and one foot slightly forward. Make sure you can move easily and can keep your balance during the move.

4. Bend your knees, but don’t bend them fully as you won’t have a lot of power to lift.

5. Only bend your back slightly.Don’t stoop.

6. Grip the load firmly, keeping it as close to your waist as possible. If the weight of the load is uneven, keep the heaviest part next to your body.

7. Begin the move by using your leg muscles to straighten your legs. Don’t bend your back any further while you are lifting.

Lifting the right wayLearn to lift things the right way to reduce the risk of injuring your back, arms and legs.

The one-person lift (‘squat lift’)

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Only lift as much as you can easily manage. Tell your supervisor or manager if you need help.

8. Move smoothly. 9. Don’t twist or lean sideways.

Keep your body squarely over your hips and move with your feet.

10.Keep your head up and look ahead.

11. Keep the load as close to you waist as possible when you carry it.

More tips on liftingn Make sure you have enough

space to work in.n Slide the load closer to you if

it's on a shelf.

Alternative liftIf it is difficult to bend your knees or get close to the object, follow these guidelines.1. Plan the move before you

begin.2. Stand as close to the object

as you can.3. Bend your knees, if possible,

or put your knees against a solid object. Use an arm as a support if this helps.

4. Bend at the hips, keeping your head and back in a straight line.

5. Get a good grip.6. Lift gradually, using your legs,

buttocks and stomach muscles.

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n Don’t block your visionby carrying something that is too big. Use a mechanical aid or get help if you need it.

n Keep your arms tucked into prevent your neck and shoulder muscles from getting tired or injured.

n Keep the load close to your body.

n Don’t twist your body, stoop, bend or lean back. If you must change directions, move your feet instead.

n Don’t change your gripon the load unless its weight is supported.

n Face the spot where the load will rest by turning your feet and whole body in that direction.

CarryingYou can help prevent injurieswhen carrying objects too. Here’s how.

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n Bend your kneesto lower the load. Don’t stoop. Keep the load close to your body.

n Be careful with your fingersand toes. Make sure there is enough room for them when you put the load down,

n Put the load on a bench or table by resting it on the edge and pushing it forward with your arms and body.

n Slide the load If it needs to go into a tight space – its much easier and safer then tryng to lift it.

n Make sure the load is securewherever you place it. Make sure it won’t fall, tip over, roll or block someone’s way.

UnloadingBe as careful setting down the load as you were when lifting it.

More tips for carrying and unloading thingsn Don’t overdo it. For example, take two small loads instead of one big

one, Get help for large objects or use a trolley.n Stack material carefully as you unload. Don’t stack things too high

or try to balance material that might fall.

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Special liftsYou may have to use different types of lift for some objects.Remember to always plan the task before you begin.

One-hand liftingIf you need to lift using only one hand, for example when lifting a bucket, take extra care.n Divide the load if you can.n Brace your body with the

opposite arm, if possible. This will help steady and support your body.

n Reach for the load. Bend your knees, and keep your back straight.

n Grip the load firmly (use a handle if possible).n Lift with your legs, using your

free arm for balance.n Keep your shoulders level.

Switch hands regularly.

Team liftsIf your load is heavy, large or awkward, you may need to work with one or more people.n Work with others who are

of similar build and heightto you.

n Choose one person to give instructions.

n Make sure everyone has a good grip on the load.

n Lift from the hips at the same time, then raise the load to the right level.

n Move smoothly and at the same time.

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Awkward objectsSome objects may be an unusual or difficult shapeand size.n Stand over one corner of

the load, with your feet comfortably apart.

n Grasp the bottom inside and the outside top corners.

n If the weight is unbalanced, lift and carry the object with it’s heaviest side close to your body.

n Bend your knees and lift, keeping the same grip.

Lifting to a high placeTry not to lift anything above your shoulders as it may put strain on your body.n Lighten the load if you can by

dividing it into smaller loads.n Stand on something sturdy

(not a chair) with one foot in front of the other, unless you are using a stepladder.

n Use a mechanical aid or get help if the load is awkward or heavy.

Lowering from a high placeTake extra care when you are lowering objects from above your head.n Test the load’s weight by

pushing up on it. Check to see if the weight of the load will shift when you lift it.

n Check to make sure there isn’t anything on top of the load that could fall off when you lift it.

n Stand as close to the loadas possible.

n Grip the object firmly, sliding it down your body.

n Use a mechanical aid or get help if necessary.Get advice if you are not

sure about anything.

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Pushing and pulling safelyUse a truck or trolley to move large, heavy objects, and take care when pushing and pulling.

Don’t overloadthe truck or trolley. Make sure you can see over the top.

Stay closeto the object and keep controlover its movements. Take special care on slopes.

Get a good gripof the handle.

Keep your elbows inand make sure your feet, fingers and clothing cannot get trapped or caught.

Keep the strain off your back–let your body’s weight and leg muscles do the work for you.

Lean in the directionyou are pushing or pulling, keeping your back straight and knees slightly bent.

Watch outfor obstructions and hazards such as uneven or slippery floor surfaces.

Watch where you’re going! Whatever you move, make sure the route is clear and free of dangers that could cause a slip, trip or fall.

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Barrels, drums and kegsRoll a heavy barrel if you move it by yourself, keeping one hand on it at all times to control its speed. If you must move it on its end, use a mechanical aid or get help.

Boxes and cartonsGrip opposite bottom corners, and keep the object close to the middle of your body. Keep your arms as straight as possible.

SacksCarry the sack on your shoulder, supported by your hand on your hip. Or, hold it at opposite ends, resting the load against your hip and stomach. Get a good Grip. Be extra careful if you are carrying slippery plastic sacks

Special objectsneed special handling

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Learn how to lift and movethings the right way – and reduce the risk of back injuries, strains, sprains,cuts and bruises.

Take training Seriously.Training is important to helpyou learn to move and lift properly. Put what you learn to good use.

Think about your fitness and healthMake sure you are fit enough to do the job. Tell your supervisor or manager if you have any condition that could affect your ability to lift or move things, such as illness, pregnancyor injury.

Use safe systems.Your employer will provide safe systems of work and make sure you have enough supervision The rules are there to protect you, so follow all your employer’s safety guidelines at all times.

Make your safety and the safety of others a top priority!

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Test your knowledgeabout manual handling things by ticking ‘True’ or ‘False’.

1. You should examine an object before you move it. ........ True o False o 2. When you reach your destination, you can just drop the load. .................................................................. True o False o 3. You should look round the side of a load that is too high to see over. ....................................................... True o False o 4. When moving a load, you should keep it close to your waist .................................................................... True o False o 5. When you’ve been trained, you can go back to your own way of handling loads. ..................................... True o False o 6. You should be physically fit and healthy to do lifting and moving work. .................................................. True o False o 7. With team lifts, one person should give the instructions. .................................................................... True o False o 8. Wearing the right clothing can help prevent injuries ....... True o False o 9. If you’re using a truck or trolley, you should lean in the direction you are pushing or pulling. ..................... True o False o10. You need to bend your knees before lifting an object ..... True o False o

I have read the booklet, Employees’ Guide to Manual Handling.

Name (BLOCK CAPITALS)

Your signature Date

Check your answers against the following pages.1. p.4 2. p.9 3. p.8 4. p.6 5. p.3 6. p.14 7. p.10 8. p.5 9. p.12 10. p.6

© 1996 Canning Bete Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

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FURNITURE VILLAGE LTDGENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY ON HEALTH AND SAFETY

Statement of Intent

We have a moral and legal responsibility to make sure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that we protect the health, safety and welfare or our personnel, customers, visitors and others who may be affected by the way in which we carry out our activities.

The Chief Executive and Directors attach great importance to Health and Safety matters. Wewill endeavour to conduct our activities in such a way as to ensure we always comply with current legislation and regulatory guidelines.

The Chief Executive and Directors consider that there must be co-operation between management, personnel and others who may be affected by the way we carry out our activities, if the highest standards in Health and Safety are to be achieved.

Objectives

The Chief Executive and Directors are committed to achieving high standards of Health and Safety and have set the following objectives:

¨To establish and maintain high standards for Health and Safety.¨Ensure that Health and Safety is an integral part of operational management.¨To identify risks and set in place programmes to remove or reduce these risks.¨To make sure that all employees are given the necessary information, instruction,

training and supervision to allow them to work in a safe manner.¨To make sure that relevant information on Health and Safety is shared between

employees.¨Maintain a high level of awareness in Health and Safety matters by ensuring everyone

has the opportunity to participate in the six monthly monitoring of the Risk Assessment.¨To provide and maintain open channels of communication to enable personnel,

customers and visitors to raise Health and Safety issues.¨To monitor the policy throughout the Group.

Statement of Responsibilities & Arrangements

Responsibilities and arrangements for managing Health and Safety are set out in section 2of the Health and Safety Reference Guide which is issued, along with updates, to the General Managers of all stores, the Distribution M anagers of satellite warehouses and regional distribution centres and the Operations Manager of the National Distribution Centre.

Health and Safety Commitment

Health and Safety is a line management responsibility. I look to the support and professionalism of our personnel at all levels in making this policy truly effective.

Review

The effectiveness of the General Statement and other specific policies in use throughout the Group will be regularly reviewed and revised as and when necessary.

Name: Mr P J Harrison Title: Chief Executive

Signature: Date: 6th March 2013