Here’s some topics from “A Health and Safety Guideline for your Workplace” by The Industrial Accident Prevention Association 2008:
Manual Materials Handling
Introduction
Manual material handling operations are carried out in most industrial plants. Each handling task poses unique demands on the worker. However, workplaces can help workers to perform these tasks safely and easily by implementing and upholding proper policies and procedures.
Legislation
Regulations respecting Industrial Establishments (O. Reg. 851/90), made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The section that deals with material handling is as follows:
Section 45:
Materials, articles or things,
a) required to be lifted, carried or moved, shall be lifted, carried or moved in such a way and with such precautions and safeguards, including protective clothing, guards or other precautions as will ensure that the lifting, carrying or moving of the material, articles or things does not endanger the safety of any worker
b) shall be transported, placed or stored so that the material, articles or things:
(i) will not tip, collapse or fall
(ii) can be removed or withdrawn without endangering the safety of any worker
c) to be removed from a storage area, pile or rack, shall be removed in a manner that will not endanger the safety of any worker
Note: Sections 46-66 also refer to Materials Handling.
Hazards
To assess the hazards of manual material handling operations, consider the load, the task, the environment in which the task is performed, and the operator. When these factors interact with each other, they can create hazards that result in injuries.
A load may be hazardous because of:
● weight
● size
● shape (making it awkward to handle)
● coupling (type of grip on the load)
● slippery or damaged surfaces
● absent or inappropriate handles, and
● imbalance (i.e., changing centre of gravity)
The task or method of handling may be hazardous when it involves:
● lifting or lowering
– repetitively
– quickly
– for extended periods of time
– while seated or kneeling
– immediately after prolonged flexion
– shortly after a period of rest
● an inability to get close to the load
● moving the load over large distances
● accuracy and precision required because of
– fragile loads, or
– specific unloading locations
● materials positioned too low or too high
● hazardous movements or postures (e.g., twisting, extended bending and reaching)
● multiple handling requirements (e.g., lifting, carrying, unloading)
Environmental factors include:
● temperature (beyond a 19–26°C range)
● relative humidity (beyond a 35–50% range)
● lighting
● noise
● time constraints (e.g., machine–paced work or deadline pressures)
● physical conditions such as
– obstacles
– floor surfaces (e.g., slippery, uneven or damaged)
Operator characteristics that affect the handling of loads include:
● general health
● physical factors
– height
– reach
– flexibility
– strength
– weight
– aerobic capacity
● pre-existing musculoskeletal problems
● psychological factors
– motivation
– stress
