If you are the owner/manager of a warehouse business, for example, certain employees have to physically move consignments and that increases the risk of injury, which invariably costs the company in several ways. Fortunately, there are online organisations that create and deliver courses on manual handling with safety in mind.
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Investing in lifting equipment
Check out the bin tippers Sitecraft offer Australian customers, which make it easy and safe to move and empty the units, which can be quite heavy when full. Pallet trolleys are excellent, allowing employees to move pallets without using a forklift truck. Drum handling equipment keeps workers safe when moving drums and barrels; the online supplier has you covered and delivery is usually free.
Manual handling training
A typical manual handling course would cover the following:
- How accidents happen
- How to use mechanical aids
- Recognised best manual handling techniques
- Use of safety equipment
If you search with Google, you will find leading Australian training academies, where experts can create a manual handling course that is designed around your workforce. The course can be delivered at your business facility or via the web using Zoom.
Minimise absenteeism through injury
Every company loses workdays when employees suffer injury and while we cannot eliminate this, we can take proactive steps to reduce the risk. Setting up a course for manual handling gives selected employees the knowledge they need to minimise the risk of injury when handling a range of items. After the first quarter, track your accident history and you should see a significant improvement.
Health & safety
All Australian businesses must comply with the many health & safety rules and many small businesses hire a leading HR agency and take proactive steps to remain compliant. State government officials can inspect your business at any given time and should they find any shortcomings, there might be serious consequences.
Key areas of manual handling
The key areas of manual handling are as follows:
- Task – Focusing on the task the employee has to complete.
- Abilities – The abilities of each employee will vary; in age, gender, height, weight and previous experience; all these elements need to be assessed.
- Load – The load is the item to be moved.
- Environment – The immediate area where the lifting is performed.
Manual handling principles
The principles of manual handling are:
- Planning – Prior to lifting an object, it is important to do a quick assessment. Are you able to lift the said object and are there any obstacles or potential dangers?
- Position – Assess the position of the item in question and understand the optimum standing position when lifting.
- Pick – Choosing the best locations to hold the item prior to lifting.
- Proceed – After checking the path has no potential obstacles, you can proceed with the lift.
- Placing the load – Use the correct posture when lowering the object.
If you enlist the help of a leading Australian manual handling trainer, they can put together a course that helps employees to safely carry and move objects.