Outside workers and exercise dont stretch your body after the key is before, why you ask think of the risks
Manual tasks always warm up do those stretches before your body stretches
Manual tasks are more than just lifting or carrying an object. They also include:
• lifting
• lowering
• pushing
• pulling
• carrying
• moving, and
• holding or restraining any object, animal or person.
Manual tasks can include a wide range of activities, such as pulling a lever, restraining an
animal, or holding and operating a power tool.
Research has identified five ‘direct’ risk factors related to manual tasks that can cause or
contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. These are:
• forceful exertions
• working postures – awkward and static
• repetition
• duration, and
• vibration.
One of these risk factors must be identified in the task in order for a
risk of injury to exist. However, the more risk factors identified the greater the risk.
Forceful exertions put high levels of stress on muscles and body tissues. This includes force
exerted by the body or force impacting on the body. Examples include lifting a very heavy or
awkward load from the ground (e.g. lifting a person or a 40 kilogram cement bag), or force to
the lower limbs resulting from jumping out of a vehicle.
Working postures
Awkward postures are postures where joints are at or near the extreme of their movement,
(e.g. your head bent to the side so your ear is by your shoulder). Exposure to awkward
postures can cause damage to the muscles and other tissues when they occur in combination
with forceful exertion, another awkward posture (e.g. back bent and twisted), repetitive
action, or if held for a prolonged period.
Static or fixed postures such as prolonged sitting or standing can sometimes be more
fatiguing than tasks that require moderate movement. Your body has to work hard to hold the
posture (leading to quicker muscle fatigue), putting greater stress on other tissue and giving
your body less flexibility to deal with unexpected changes. Awkward postures are often
caused by poorly designed work area(s), tools, equipment or work practices.
Repetition and duration involves making the same type of movement over and over (e.g.
frequent lifting or working on a production line) or holding a position for a long time. There
are even greater risks when repetition is combined with awkward postures, forceful exertions,
fast movement, and/or cold conditions.
The work cycle is the time taken to perform the task once without interruption. Tasks
involving short cycle times of less than 30 seconds and performed for more than one hour are
considered to be a risk, because the same muscles and other soft tissues are being used
continuously.
Duration is the amount of time a person is exposed to a risk factor (e.g. vibration, awkward
postures) without a break. Long periods of activity increase the strain and wear and tear on
the body. Duration may be considered a significant risk factor when a task is performed
continuously for one hour or longer.
Vibration
Exposure to continuous or high intensity vibration is a concern as it increases the strain and
wear and tear on the body.
There are two sources of vibration exposure according to the contact points between the body
and the vibrating equipment:
• Hand/arm vibration can be caused by vibrating hand tools such as grinders, drills and
circular saws, particularly if they are not properly maintained or not appropriate for the
task. It can result in fatigue, pain, numbness, tingling, decreased sensation in the fingers,
hand and arm.
• Whole body vibration commonly results from sitting or standing on work surfaces that
vibrate such as trucks, forklifts, tractors or platforms. It is associated with general
discomfort and lower back pain.
Preventing manual tasks injuries
Workers' compensation statistics show that one-third of all occupational injuries in Australia
occur during manual tasks. This injury rate has not been reduced by traditional approaches,
which concentrated on correct lifting techniques, and saw the weight of an object as the only
source of danger. The most successful approach is a systematic one, which aims to ‘design
out' the whole range of possible causes of injury during manual tasks.
Common causes of manual task injuries include:
• lifting gates
• pulling taut liners curtains
• handling freight (including overuse injuries which develop over time), and
• restraining loads (use of ‘dogs’ and chains).
Common manual task injuries include:
• strains and sprains
• hernias
• disc herniations, and
• aggravation of degenerative conditions.
Checklist for the prevention of slips, trips and falls.
If any of these hazards are ticked, action needs to be taken.
Floors
�� Can water be walked onto smooth floors (e.g. foyers) on rainy days?
�� Are there any hard, smooth floors in wet or oily areas?
�� Are there any leaks of fluids onto the floor from processes or machines?
�� Is poor drainage causing pooling of fluids?
�� Are there any floor surface transitions not easily noticed (any ridge that is as high as a
footwear sole or higher)?
�� Is there any ice or water on cold room floors?
�� Is the floor slippery when wet?
�� Are any anti-slip paint, coating profiles or tapes worn smooth or damaged?
�� Are there any isolated low steps (commonly at doorways)?
�� Are there any trip hazards due to equipment and other objects left on the floor?
�� Are there any raised carpet edges or holes worn in carpets?
�� Are there any tiles becoming unstuck or curling at the edges?
�� Are there any holes or unevenness in the floor surface?
Stairs and ramps
�� Is the lighting insufficient for ramps or steps to be seen clearly and without glare?
�� Do any steps have too small a rise, tread or an excessive nosing?
�� Are any step edges (nosings) slippery or hard to see?
�� Are the steps uneven, or are there excessive variations in step dimensions?
�� Are handrails inadequate on stairs?
�� Are ramps too steep, or too slippery?
Lighting
�� Is there insufficient lighting in passageways and at flooring transitions, ramps or stairs?
�� Does the lighting throw distracting shadows or produce excessive glare?
Outdoor areas
�� Is there a build up of moss or other vegetation on pathways?
�� Are there any surface transitions not easily noticed (any ridge that is as high as a footwear
sole or higher)?
�� Are there potholes in footpaths or walkways?
Housekeeping
�� Is there a build up of polish on floors?
�� Is there an excessive residue of detergent?
�� Do workers have to walk on floors wet from washing?
�� Are wet floor signs not available or not used correctly?