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 Hand Safety and Manual Handling
Introduction Screen

Welcome to our Pearl Village Training Centre for this course on Hand Safety and Manual
Handling. As part of our 'Incident and Injury Free' campaign, we expect everyone on the
project to take personal responsibility for their safety and the safety of their friends and
fellow workers. It is important that we work together to keep each other safe and make sure
that everyone goes home safely.

02008 Atlas Int~ ltd

 Hand Safety and Manual Handling
Pushing and Pulling
Before pushing or pulling loads, YOU must ensure that the floor area is not slippery and that
YOU have a secure footing. Wearing the correct PPE will reduce the risk of a slip, trip, or fall
injury. When pushing or pulling, the hands should be between YOUR waist and shoulder height
on the materials; lower or higher than this position increases the stress to the back. In some
situations, it may be more suitable to push the load with YOUR back to enable YOUR stronger
leg muscles to be used, rather than YOUR weaker arm muscles. However, the hazards
associated with this pushing technique should be assessed first, as there may be additional
dangers.
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Hand Safety and Manual Handling
Life Critical Activities
There are eleven main areas of danger that have been identified on our worksite. These areas
are known as the Life Critical Activities and they could harm you if the proper controls are
not in place. These eleven Life Critical Activities are: Road Transportation Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) Lifting Fall Protection Scaffolding Excavation Electrical Safety Confined
Spaces Working in Poor Lighting Falling Objects Health and Welfare Hand Safety and Manual
Handling is part of some of these Life Critical Activities. For example, Hand Safety and Manual
Handling will be covered in the Life Critical Activities for Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE), Lifting and Scaffolding. Everyone is likely to be involved with manual handling and
should be trained and have the required experience for the type of materials that they are
going to handle. The Life Critical Activities set the standards and the rules that YOU MUST
follow so that you work safely.
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 Hand Safety and Manual Handling Hand Safety and Manual Handling

Manual Handling Technique Part 3 Hands and Back IContinuedl

Complete the lifting movement as smoothly as possible and try not to move suddenly. Use
YOUR leg muscles to lift the materials. If YOU feel strain on YOUR back, slowly lower the
materials and ask YOUR Supervisors for help. Always move YOUR feet to turn. Ensure the
materials are kept as close to the waist as possible. When carrying the materials YOU should
always make sure that you can see where you are going. The distance that materials are
carried should also be considered, as longer distances can result in physical stress and fatigue.
Never lean over obstacles to put the materials into position. Always put the materials down
first and then move them into position. If the lift cannot be done safely, DO NOT lift the
materials.
x
Our back is another wonderful and important part of the body. Our back provides the
flexibility when we move and, importantly, keeps us upright. This allows YOU to walk and
run. Using YOUR back YOU can also complete many different movements. YOU can bend
forwards. Bend backwards, and Bend sideways. YOU can also twist, using YOUR back, into
different positions. All of these different movements must, however, be completed correctly
to prevent injury. YOUR hands and back also provide strength through a number of muscles. If
used correctly, YOU can use this strength in YOUR hands and back to handle materials in a
very flexible way. As YOUR hands and back are two very important tools that allow YOU to
complete YOUR work on the Pearl GTL Project, it is important that YOU do this safely and
avoid danger.

02008 Atlas Interactive' ltd

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 Hand Safety and Manual Handling Hand Safety and Manual Handling

Manual Handling Technique Part 1 The Back

To ensure that materials are lifted and moved with greater care and safety, you should follow Your back is equally important to YOUR work and home life. What would YOU do if YOU
these basic steps: injured YOUR back? If YOU injured YOUR back YOU may not be able to: Walk, from one place
• Stop and think to another. Bend, to tie your shoe laces. Twist, to see behind you when someone is calling
• Position the feet YOUR name. YOU may not be able to hold materials if YOU have an injured back. And, YOU
• Adopt a good posture may not be able to work again!
• Get a firm grip of the load
• Don't jerk when raising the lift
• Move the feet to turn
• Carry the load
• Put down the load

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 Hand Safety and Manual Handling Hand Safety and Manual Handling
Hand Protection Part 3 The Back IContinuedl

Other types of gloves include:
• Padded cloth gloves that protect your hands from sharp edges, dirt, and vibration.
• Heat resistant gloves that protect your hands from heat and flames.
• Latex disposable gloves that protect your hands from germs, bacteria and dermatitis.
As there are many different types of gloves available, if YOU do not know which type of
gloves should be used for the work that YOU are doing, YOU must STOP the work and talk to
YOUR supervisor. Remember; YOUR Hands are one of YOUR greatest assets; YOU must protect
them.
Workers who suffer from back pain usually feel pain just after they have lifted heavy
materials, moved suddenly, sat in one position for a long time, or have had an injury or
accident. Back pain itself can develop over a period of time. Other more severe conditions
may develop from back pain, such as slipped discs. It is important that YOU follow the safety
rules for Manual Handling to reduce YOUR risk of back pain and the risk of more severe
conditions. Later in the course YOU will also see how YOU can protect YOUR back whilst
working on the Pearl GTL Project.

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 Hand Safety and Manual Handling Hand Safety and Manual Handling

Hand Protection Part 1 How are Materials Handled? IContinuedl

Earlier in the course we discussed the importance of protecting and looking after our hands. If
hands are not protected then hand and finger accidents MAY occur. Injuries do occur; some
examples include:
• Cutting a finger on a sharp edge, when tightening a hose fitting.
• Cutting a finger when stripping insulation wire.
• Cutting a finger when a hand slips when selecting a sheet of metal.
• Snagging a wedding ring finger, leading to amputation.
• All of these examples of accidents can be avoided if the correct safety rules are followed.
To reduce the danger of injuries like these to YOUR hands, suitable hand protection for the
work that is being completed MUST be worn.
Some materials may be difficult to handle by just workers on their own. The distance the
materials need to be moved may be too far. The materials may also be too heavy, too large,
sharp or difficult to grasp. If this is the case then a mechanical handling aid should be used to
reduce the danger. Mechanical handling aids look like these. They include fork lift trucks,
conveyors, chains, hoists, trolleys and cranes. YOU can use a mechanical handling aid to
reduce the danger from a handling injury. If the materials include many parts or components
then YOU must also consider breaking up the materials into smaller units so that it is easier to
handle the materials. The danger of handling this load has been reduced by breaking the
materials into smaller units and by using a trolley.

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 Hand Safety and Manual Handling Hand Safety and Manual Handling

Handling of Materials Part 2 Handling Injuries

When lifting and carrying materials YOU should ask YOURSELF: Handling materials has long been recognised as a major source of injury and ill health.
• Do I need rest stops? Statistics for handling injuries show the extent of the problem in the construction industry.
• Are there any slip or trip hazards? Over 30% of injuries are caused by Manual Handling. Half of these injuries are injuries to the
• Are there any stairs that I need to use? back. Many of these injuries occur due to people NOT following the safety rules and by using
• Does the load have sharp edges? incorrect handling techniques.
• Is the load very hot or very cold?
Some materials may also be difficult to handle. Before lifting and carrying these materials,
YOU may need to ask YOURSELF:
• Is the material bulky?
• Is the material awkward to hold or grip?
The answers to these questions will help make the handling activity safer.

C zoos Mia Interacttv. Ltd

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