NEW HSE RESEARCH ON PRINCIPLES OF GOOD MANUAL HANDLING

HSE press release - E056:03 - 15 April 2003

New research on the principles of good manual handling at work, has today (Tuesday), been published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The principles of good manual handling: achieving a consensus, looks at the advice in HSE's current guide Manual handling: guidance on regulations (L23) with a view to revising and improving it. The charity BackCare also used the research to revise its advice book BackCare at work: an ergonomic guide to manual handling, which is also published today.

Health and Safety Commissioner Margaret Burns launching the research at the Ergonomics Society Conference in Edinburgh, said: "This research, which feeds into the development of the Health and Safety Commission's Priority Programme on Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), has highlighted factors that employers and employees need to take into account to ensure that manual handling is carried out safely.

"The ability to handle loads safely is one of a number of issues that must be addressed if manual handling injuries are to be avoided. The principles drawn up as a result of the research, will be used to revise HSE's guidance of how employers should comply with the manual handling operations regulations, which is currently under way."

The research was conducted by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) in consultation with manual handling trainers, industry safety practitioners, ergonomists and other professionals involved with training in manual handling,

It includes an overview of relevant scientific literature, as well as revised principles on lifting with both hands that takes place in front of and close to the body. Anybody engaging in this kind of work should think before they lift; keep the load close to their waist; adopt a stable position ensuring a good hold on the load; at the start of a lift flex the hips and knees rather than the back; ensure a good hold on the load; avoid twisting the trunk or leaning sideways; keep their head up when handling; and not lift or handle more than they can easily manage.

Colin Jones, Chief Executive of BackCare, said: "This research played an important part in informing the revision of our guidance, which contains over 70 illustrations providing general advice on back pain, its causes and ways to minimise risk when lifting and carrying, highlighting the need to fit the ways of manual handling at work to the capabilities of the handler. Its easy to follow advice will be particularly helpful to small businesses."

'Principles of manual handling: achieving a consensus' Research Report 097 is available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/

Notes to editors

1. Margaret Burns spoke at the Ergonomics Society Conference, which was held at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh on 15-17 April 2003.

2. This IOM project was part of HSE's ongoing programme of research on MSDs. The results of this and other projects will feed into the development of the Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) Priority Programme on MSDs.

3. The research was carried out in consultation with manual handling trainers, industry safety practitioners and other professionals involved with training in manual handling and the day-to-day control of manual handling hazards. The research report also includes an overview of relevant scientific literature.

4. It also looked at how the principles of good manual handling listed above could be applied to other forms of lifting and carrying. The three principles that appeared most important for all types of lifting were 'Think before you lift', 'Keep the load close to your waist' and 'Ensure a good hold on the load '.

5. HSC's Priority Programme aims to reduce the incidence of work-related illness involving musculoskeletal disorders, and reduce the number of working days lost due to these disorders. HSE aims to achieve the targets in the Programme by communicating effectively with all stakeholders (such as employers, employees and health professionals) to encourage ownership of the plan and its outputs, keeping them informed, and giving them opportunities to contribute, revising the strategy as necessary. For more information about the MSD Priority Programme please see the MSD web pages on the HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/index.htm

6. MSDs affect the muscles, joints, tendons and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. They are the most common type of occupational ill health in Great Britain, currently affecting 1.1 million people a year.

7. The research was funded by HSE and undertaken by the Institute of Occupational Medicine.

8. BackCare - the Charity for Healthier Backs is a national charity concerned with meeting the needs of people with back pain. Registered as the National Back Pain Association, the charity works to: support and inform people with back pain; educate people to prevent back pain; fund research into the causes and treatments of back pain; stimulate debate on back pain and related issues.

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