Manual Handling is Not Just About Lifting & Carrying Warns Dr Alistair Bromhead

ASHTEAD, U.K. - May 20, 2016 - PRLog -- Manual handling conjures up images of lifting and carrying. But lifting and carrying is by no means the be all and end all of manual handling says Dr Alistair Bromhead, a leading expert in health, safety and environmental issues in the UK and Europe.

"Pushing and pulling is a much used way of shifting a manual load, often using a handling aid such as a trolley. Whilst this does avoid traditional manual handling and all the risks that go with it, pushing and pulling have their own risks which have to be considered when planning a risk assessment," he says.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations apply to pushing and pulling as much as they apply to lifting, carrying and lowering loads.

This year the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is due to launch its new Risk Assessment of Pushing and Pulling Tool (RAPP Tool). It will assist those responsible for analysing the risks involved in this type of handling task. The HSE feels that pushing and pulling tasks are often overlooked in risk assessments because they are seen as solutions for manual handling, but these tasks do in fact carry their own risks.

Alistair Bromhead is also managing director of Alistair Bromhead Ltd (http://www.abromhead.co.uk/), nationwide providers of various types of health and safety training, including manual handing operator and train the trainer courses. He talks us through some of the most recent statistics concerning the risks involved in the pushing and pulling of loads.

"Pushing and pulling were behind 11 per cent of the manual handling incidents investigated by the HSE. Most of these (44 per cent) were back injuries, followed by shoulder, arm, wrist and hand injuries (just under 29 per cent). Pulling was responsible for more accidents than pushing, and most involved non-wheeled objects.

"Just over a third of these incidents involved wheeled objects such as roll cages, pallet trucks and trolleys, which proves the importance of including pushing and pulling in your manual handling training and risk assessments."

Where a load can be pushed or pulled, pulling is generally recommended. "This is because firstly, if it is not too highly loaded, it allows you to see the route forward and secondly, it avoids stretching muscles such as those in the shoulders, arms, hands and wrists," Dr Bromhead explains. He also recommends having the load in front of you - i.e. pushing it - in case it topples.

According to Dr Bromhead, attention needs to be paid to a number of key areas when considering the risk of a pushing and pulling task. "Look at loading and where the centre of gravity is," he says, "And always plan your route so as to avoid slopes, pot holes and narrowing entryways."

He also stresses the importance of running a maintenance check over pushing or pulling equipment to ensure everything is in working order, brakes are operating correctly and wheels are properly fitted and pointing in the right direction.

Alistair Bromhead Ltd runs a manual handler training course in which handlers are shown how to use their major, stronger muscles so as to avoid injury to lesser used, weaker muscles. This is done through the creation of what is known as the 'A-Frame' with hands kept close in, so as to avoid potential impact.

Alistair Bromhead Ltd manual handler training courses cover every aspect of manual handling, including pushing and pulling. For further details email info@abromhead.co.uk or call 07932 674707.