The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently launched a new construction campaign to prevent ill health from moving and handling materials. Their recent report states that “around 42,000 construction workers suffer musculoskeletal disorder (MSDs), which can cause years of agonising aches and pains” [source].

Whilst construction and manual handling are physically demanding, some precautions can be taken to reduce accidents, injuries and MSDs caused by manual handling. These precautions could help prevent damaging tens of thousands of workers’ health every year.

Regular and repeated manual handling can lead to pain in muscles, bones, joints and nerves that can badly affect workers’ lives and, in some cases, their ability to continue working and earning a living. Some workers may struggle to sit, stand or walk in extreme cases.

There are many ways to reduce manual handling on construction sites. When manual handling is unavoidable, there are ways to minimise the impact and ensure workers carry it out as safely as possible. Using mechanical equipment when handling large, heavy items is one of the most effective ways to ensure reduced impact for workers who would otherwise have to carry these.

Small, inexpensive airbags can take the pressure off workers when moving heavy items such as internal and external doors. All-terrain pallet trucks can move objects like blocks, and brick-lifters can lift and carry bricks around the site. These are just a few of the available solutions employers and Principal Designers should identify, make available and promote the utilisation of throughout their sites.

The important thing is to carry out thorough and appropriate assessments before construction work begins. These assessments should look at what workers will have to lift and carry, where the work is taking place, how that will affect what workers must move and whether machinery or other appropriate solutions could minimise strain for workers. Priority should be given to the most significant risks first.

Workers should get training to know what controls are available for each task and how to use them properly to ensure their safety and maximum effectiveness.

Matt Birtles, principal ergonomist at HSE, said: “It is important that the issue of manual handling is not downplayed. Serious aches, pains and strains should not be accepted as routine when working in construction. These can dramatically affect every part of someone’s life – with sufferers struggling to get themselves dressed and undressed, and unable to pick up their children or grandchildren” [source].

If you want to explore further how your business can reduce the impact of manual handling on your construction team, Safetyform can partner with you to achieve this. We can help you minimise risk and maximise protection most appropriately and effectively to ensure you’re compliant. Get started today by calling our team on 02922 677 182 or emailing info@safetyform.co.uk, and a team member will get back to you shortly.