15.4. Manual Tasks Guidelines

Manual tasks means more than just lifting or carrying something. The term ‘manual handling’ is used to describe a range of activities including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, moving, holding or restraining an object, animal or person.
Up to one third of all work injuries in Australia occur during hazardous manual tasks. Most of the reported accidents involving manual tasks cause back injury although hands arms and feet are also vulnerable. Sometimes the person injured never fully recovers or requires a long period of rehabilitation before they are able to work again.

Many manual task injuries build up over a period rather than being caused by a single handling incident. These injuries occur wherever people are at work – on farms and building sites, in factories, offices, warehouses, hospitals, banks, laboratories, while making deliveries and on beaches!

How Can Manual Task Injuries Occur?
Risk of hazardous manual task injuries can arise when tasks are poorly designed or where handling involves awkward or constrained postures. These conditions can make it difficult for you to use good handling techniques.

Some examples of actions that may cause manual handling injuries are: -

• Carrying a patient out of the water on soft sand or uneven and slippery rocks;
• Sitting with a poor posture for a long period of time;
• Moving RWC’s;
  

Risk Management:
Both the Code of Practice for Hazardous Manual Tasks and the Code of Practice for How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks requires that all tasks in your workplace which involve manual tasks are identified and that the risk or likelihood of injury is assessed. Where there is a risk of injury, suitable “control measures” must be introduced. Control measures need to be suitable and practical. They might include:

• Redesigning the task where something needs moving;
• Providing mechanical handling devices such as hoists or trolleys;
• Safe work procedures such as team lifting; or
• Specific training for particular handling tasks.
  

Who Is Responsible For Controlling The Risks?
We all have a responsibility for promoting a safe working environment. You should discuss anything which could be a manual task risk in your working environment with your Lifeguard Supervisor and/or the Chief Lifeguard to determine the best way of eliminating or reducing the risk of injury.

General:
This procedure sets out general guidelines to be followed by all lifeguards. Wherever you are exposed to the possibility of risks from the manual task of loads you should ensure that, if that risk cannot be avoided, a competent person carries out a suitable and sufficient assessment of all such manual tasks operations to be undertaken by them. Never attempt to lift or carry any heavy loads alone, especially patients. You should also co-operate when assessments are undertaken and attend any training that is arranged.

Your Responsibilities:

• Promote a safe working environment
• Follow the systems of work listed below that are laid down for your safety
• Make proper use of equipment provided for your safety
• Co-operate on all health and safety matters
• Consult your Lifeguard Supervisor if you identify dangerous handling activities
• Take care to ensure that your activities do not put others at risk
• Avoid manual tasks where possible – i.e. can you take the treatment to the casualty and not vice versa?
  

Ways Of Reducing The Risk Of Injury:

• Reduce the amount of twisting and stooping
• Avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height
• Where possible, reduce the carrying distances
• Avoid repetitive handling
• Vary the work allowing one group of muscles to relax while another is used
• Where possible, make the load lighter or less bulky
• Adjust your grip to find the load easier to grasp, more stable and less damaging to hold
• Remove obstructions to free your movement
• Where possible, avoid steps & steep ramps
  

Maximum Loads:

• Weights over 55KG are not to be lifted without mechanical or team assistance
• Lifeguards under the age of 18 must not lift, lower or carry more than 16KG without mechanical or team assistance, and specific training
  

Good Handling Techniques:

1. Stop and think
   Plan the lift. Where is the load to be placed? Use appropriate handling aids if possible. Do you need help with the load? Remove obstructions such as discarded wrapping materials or debris on the beach. For a long lift such as floor to shoulder height, consider resting the load mid-way on a table or bench to change grip.
2. Position your feet
   Feet apart, giving a balanced and stable base for lifting (unsuitable footwear might make this difficult). Leading leg as far forward as comfortable and if possible, pointing in the direction you intend to go.
3. Adopt a good posture
   When lifting from a low level, bend the knees. Do NOT kneel or overflex the knees. Keep the back straight, maintaining its natural curve (tucking in the chin helps). Lean forward a little over the load if necessary to get a good grip. Keep the shoulders level and facing in the same direction as the hips.
4. Get a firm grip
   Try to keep the arms within the boundary formed by the legs. The best position and type of grip depends on the circumstances and individual preference; but must be secure. A hook grip is less tiring than keeping the fingers straight. If you need to vary the grip as the lift proceeds, do it as smoothly as possible.
5. Keep close to the load
   Keep the load as close to the trunk for as long as possible. Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the trunk. If a close approach to the load is not possible, slide it towards you before trying to lift.
6. Don’t jerk
   Lift smoothly; raising the chin as the lift begins, keeping control of the head.
7. Move the feet
   Don’t twist the trunk when turning to the side
   

TABLE 1 – Patrol equipment which presents a manual TASK hazard

Lifeguard Tower Ladders:
When using a lifeguard tower ladder, lifeguards must have 3 points of contact at all times.
Ladders should be regularly inspected by a competent person. Ladders with any of the following faults should be replaced or repaired:

• timber stiles warped, splintered, cracked or bruised
• metal stiles twisted, bent, kinked, crushed or with cracked welds or damaged feet
• rungs, steps, treads or top plates which are missing, worn, damaged or loose
• tie rods missing, broken or loose
• ropes, braces, or brackets which are missing, broken or worn, and
• timber members that, apart from narrow identification bands, are covered with opaque paint or other treatment which could disguise faults in the timber