The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is focusing on safe manual handling as the festive season gets underway.
Britain’s health and safety watchdog has warnings and advice for the haulage and distribution industry, a new body mapping tool for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and awards for MSD risk-reduction.
The HSE has warned those working in the haulage and distribution industry that extra demand on workers during the lead-up to Christmas can increase the risk of manual handling injuries.
They provide a range of advice and guidance about safe manual handling at work on their website. This includes information for employees and employers.
Guidance for employers includes information about how to assess manual handling tasks that cannot be avoided, and what training should be provided for workers. They also provide signposting to a range of useful resources, including their own free guides on manual handling at work and the relevant Regulations.
Body mapping tool can help proactively manage manual handling risks
To assist businesses in proactively managing the risks of manual handling, the HSE has also developed a body mapping tool to help workers report and discuss any musculoskeletal aches or pains that may be caused or aggravated by their work activities.
Employers have a duty to protect workers from the risks of MSDs caused or made worse by their work. The body mapping tool will help them to proactively engage with their workers to identify workplace tasks or activities which could cause MSD discomfort and “provide a forum to discuss practical solutions to reduce risk.”
MSDs are one of the biggest causes of work-related ill-health every year in the UK. They can affect the back, joints and limbs.
Body mapping is designed to prevent any aches or pains from becoming worse, or even chronic, as this could lead to long-term discomfort for individuals and high sickness absences for businesses.
The HSE has also produced a guide and posters to help organisations run a successful body mapping workshop.
Recognition for manual handling risk reduction
Focusing on long-term solutions to prevent manual handling injuries at work, the HSE is also looking to recognise and award UK businesses that have made design changes to reduce the risk of MSD injuries in their workplaces.
These changes could be simple adaptations that have reduced lifting, pushing or pulling activities, reduced awkward postures while using workplace equipment or removed the need for manual handling altogether.
The health and safety watchdog is urging such employers to nominate themselves for the Risk Reduction Through Design Awards 2024-25. The deadline for nominations is 31st January 2025.
There are further details about the awards, including how to enter and case studies of previous winners, available online.
Targeted health and safety training
First Response Training (FRT) is one of the UK’s largest and leading national training providers.
They deliver a wide and diverse range of training for businesses and organisations across all industry sectors and throughout the UK. Their course range includes training in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, mental health, food safety, health and social care and more.
Their health and safety training range includes Principles of Health and Safety, Manual Handling, Accident and Incident Investigation and the Principles of Risk Assessment.
These courses are mapped to UK standards and legislation and follow HSE guidelines.
Based on a common sense, proportionate approach to workplace safety, training helps learners to understand the true benefits of creating a healthy and safe environment at work.
A trainer from FRT explains:
“We believe in creating safer working environments with people who care, and know that when workers feel safe, valued and protected, they are likely to be happier and more productive at work.
“Companies with robust risk control measures and a good training programme can not only reduce workplace accidents and downtime, but also see better staff retention rates and increased employee satisfaction in the future.
“Targeted manual handling training can help employers understand their responsibility to assess risks to workers, consult with workers on control measures to reduce those risks, and implement and evaluate those measures year-round.”
For more information on any of the training courses that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or e-mail info@firstresponsetraining.com.