An Introduction to Manual Handling Injuries and How to Prevent It

Not all work-related injuries involve a tool or machine. Many of them involve manual handling. Statistics, in fact, show that one in five injuries sustained by agricultural workers involve manual handling. What are manual handling injuries exactly, and how can you prevent them?

What Are Manual Handling Injury

A manual handling injury is any type of bodily injury that occurs when manually lifting, moving or otherwise manipulating an object. Workers who perform manual labor are typically the most susceptible to them. When you lift and move objects, your body will be exposed to stress. This stress can cause manual handling injuries in the form of pulled muscles, joint sprains and more.

Like all types of injuries, manual handling injuries can have a significant impact on productivity. If you sustain a manual handling injury, you may have to take time off to rest and recover. Most manual handling injuries don't require medical treatment. Nonetheless, you'll have to wait until your body has recovered from it. Otherwise, you run the risk of worsening the injury.

How to Prevent Manual Handling Injuries

While manual handling injuries are common, they can often be avoided. When lifting objects, for example, plan ahead so that you don't place your body in a position where it's susceptible to manual handling injuries. Consider the weight of the object as well as its shape. If it's heavy or shaped awkwardly, you may need assistance lifting it.

Avoid twisting your back when manually handling objects. Twisting your back to the side can cause muscle damage, especially if you're carrying a heavy load. Instead, keep your back straight and upright until you are finished handling the object.

Maintaining good posture can lower your risk of manual handling injuries. According to various surveys, about half of the general population has poor posture. If your posture is bad, you'll have a greater risk of manual handling injuries. Posture is the way in which you carry your body. Good posture involves a natural alignment of your spine and neck.

If you discover that your back or neck is hurting after manually handling an object, you can use a hot compress to alleviate the pain. A hot compress will reduce pain while simultaneously encouraging the injured tissue to heal faster.

In Conclusion

Manual handling injuries are a concern for workers in laborious jobs. If your job requires you to manually lift and move objects, you should take action to prevent them.