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The root cause of more than a third of all workplace injuries are poor manual handling. Why don’t employers use machines for manual lifting? The answer is simple because machines are more complex and harder to use in confined spaces. Thus, sometimes we have to use our strength. Thus, it is vital to understand the main consequences of poor handling. This blog post will explain the steps to prevent poor manual handling.Lifting, handling, and carrying are inevitable activities in any workplace. Improper measures in such activities can cause your workers physical and mental health issues. Like machines, our bodies also react to fatigue and stress.
What is manual handling?
Manual handling involves carrying out a task using human force. This task can be the movement or transportation of an object from point A to B. Manual handling consists of a range of activities, including lifting, twisting, pushing, pulling, or carrying. From construction sites to busy shops, every workplace is subject to manual handling.Whether using technology to assist people or bodies in shifting and carrying loads, it is important that employees prevent from overburdening themselves. As the human body can sometimes struggle to repair itself. Injuries from workplaces can sometimes change the life of the injured person forever. Thus, it is vital to understand the importance of proper manual handling.
Occupations that are at a higher risk of poor manual handling injuries
- Aged care
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Retail (stock assistants, for example)
- Agriculture
- Defence
- Public administration
- Child care
- Industrial cleaning
- Transportation
- Social work
Seven consequences of Poor manual lifting:
- Injuries
Injuries are the most common result of when poor manual handling. These injuries are of three main types: short-term, long-term, and mental health issues.
- Short-term injuries: These injuries include cuts, bruises, sprains, and minor fractures. Usually caused by unexpected accidents, for example, losing grip or dropping a load. The effects of such short-term injuries can include pain, inflammation, and back or joint problems.
- Long-term injuries: Injury to the musculoskeletal system while improper manual handling results in long-term injuries. Musculoskeletal injuries harm muscles, tendons, bones, joints, ligaments, and nerves. Continuous practice of improper manual handling causes these injuries. Repetitive activities of poor object handling or lifting can cause wear and tear in the human body leading to long-term injuries.
- Mental health issues: This effect on human health is the opposite of an injury. More like mental health issue deals with the psychological impact a workplace accident has caused on an employee. Mental health issues include stress, anxiety, and depression. Mental health issues have a similar effect to that long-term injuries. It can have a significant impact on the productivity and morale of a worker.
- Lost productivity
When a worker is suffering from an injury or a mental health issue such as depression, it can affect a firm’s productivity. The adverse effect of workplace injuries from poor manual handling results in the loss of productivity. Loss of productivity can occur from delays in production or delivery while facing short-term injuries to workers taking their time off work when facing long-term damage. In both cases, it impacts the productivity of an organization. A worker who is facing depression or anxiety would be able to focus less on his work. Moreover, poor manual handling can significantly impact a business’s bottom line, as lost productivity can lead to loss of revenue and decreased competitiveness in the marketplace.
- Increased cost
Increased business cost is another outcome of poor manual handling in the workplace. It is the responsibility of a firm to bear the cost of workers’ compensation, their medical treatment, and lost productivity in case of an injury. In the case of numerous workplace injuries, these costs can add up to be enormous, all to be by paid by the firm.
- Reduced morale
Injuries from poor manual handling can have a significant impact on the morale of an employee. A non-safe workplace environment contributes to workplace injuries. Thus, when workers feel that their health and safety are not taken serious, it can affect their job satisfaction and morale. Reducedmorale will hence affect productivity and quality of work. Thus, it is equally important to understand that employers should value and support their employees.
- Legal consequences
An employer’s legal duty is to lead a safe working environment. Poor manual handling leads to workplace accidents which creates a non-safe work environment. In most cases, the government criticizes the employer for not providing employees with a safe work environment. The employer may be liable for damages, including medical costs and lost wages.
- Damaged reputation
Workplace accidents led by poor manual handling can harm a corporation’s reputation. Suppose a business have a high rate of workplace injuries and cause a breach of safety regulations. In that case, it can lead to negative publicity causing damage to the company’s brand. A damaged reputation can have further backlash on a business. Such as loss of customer base, reduced customer loyalty, and decreased competitiveness in the marketplace.
- Decreased employee satisfaction and loss of skilled workers
If anytime, during their job, when a worker feels less safe and essential, it can affect his output. Causing them to become less motivated and engaging. Additionally, workplace accidents will result in the loss of skilled workers as they cannot perform their job due to injury. Such demotivation can cause employee turnover. Fewer employees will be willing to provide their services to a firm where they are not respected enough and feel safe. Which again affects the company’s productivity and output.
Four primary safety measures to avoid poor manual handling
- Employers can help prevent workplace injuries and promote a safe, healthy environment by investing in training. Training is the solution to many problems. Manual handling training courses offer an easy solution to significant problems. Similarly, employers should emphasize providing workers with proper training in the case of poor manual handling.
Manual handling training courses cover essential topics such as:
- Assessing the risk
- Using proper safety equipment and tool
- How to properly use lifting machinery
- How to lift, carry, and load manually
- A skilled and competent staff member should conduct a daily risk assessment, which involves assessing the workplace’s risk and taking safety measures to eliminate the threat.
- Communication also plays a pivotal role in preventing workplace accidents. Sometimes the workers are shy enough to ask for help and can overburden themselves with a heavy load.Thus, workers must ask each other for support, not to burden themselves. Effective communication will also help promote a united working environment.
- Employers should always report hazards, faults, or accidents to their supervisor or employer. In case of a defect in any machine, writing an error would help resolve that problem as soon as possible. In case of an accident, early reporting of the situation would lead to quick and easy solutions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, poor manual handling can have many harmful consequences for businesses. As mentioned in this blog, these consequences can range from productivity loss to a firm’s damaged reputation. This blog will help you understand the importance of proper manual handling and its acquired training.The four primary safety measures mentioned will help an employer create a safer workplace. A safe and healthy workplace will save the employer from further problems.
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