Back Care and Manual Handling Guidelines

Manual Handling includes any activity where you manipulate, grasp, carry, move, lift, lower, push, pull, hold or restrain a load. Therefore you perform many manual handling activities at work and in your leisure time.

You have a responsibility to take care of your body.

• Ask for help or check what the procedure is for a new manual handling task.
• Use the equipment provided for your safety eg. trolleys, lifts.
• Inform your supervisor if you see any dangerous manual handling activity.
• Don't put others at risk.

The most common manual handling injuries occur to the back, but the shoulder, wrist, elbows, knees and ankles are prone to injury too. Supervisors must ensure that they assess tasks in areas they are responsible for and if manual handling is required then the need for training must be considered as part of a training needs analysis for all tasks in the area.

Assessment of tasks, advice about appropriate lifting equipment and instruction on how to brace your stomach muscles to protect your back while lifting can prevent injury.

Free back care information sessions can be organised for any group of staff at any time.

The Occupational Health and Safety Unit will coordinate back care sessions and instructions on lifting and carrying (Manual Handling) when requested - please ask.

Kerry Jaunutis, the University's Occupational Health Nurse, will coordinate bookings with session providers. Email Kerry.Jaunutis or call Kerry on 13117.

Audits

Regular audits of the system for assessing manual handling training needs will be carried out by Occupational Health and Safety Audit teams.

Legislation

Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Regulation 1995 - Division 2.9.