Management of

Manual

Handling in

Construction

Presented by Dave Carney

(Information sourced from HSE)

45,000 case of musculoskeletal

disorders (MSD), of which just

under a third were new conditions

What are Musculoskeletal Disorders?

Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs are

injuries and disorders that affect the human

body's movement or musculoskeletal system

(i.e. muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs,

blood vessels, etc.).

HSE’s

Construction

Sector Plan

Priorities within the Sector Plan

The age old question!

What is the maximum weight an employee is allowed to lift

according the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992?

Answer – 25KG

Answer – 20KG

Answer – There is no maximum weight stated in the regulations

Source – L23 Guidance on MH Regs

The Regulations require employers to:

■ avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, ‘so far as

is reasonably practicable’;

■ assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual

handling that can’t be avoided;

■ reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling,

‘so far as is reasonably practicable’.

Reasonably practicable?

‘Reasonably practicable’ means balancing the level of risk

against the measures needed to control the real risk in

terms of money, time or trouble. However, you do not

need to take action if it would be grossly disproportionate

to the level of risk.

What can be done to help prevent manual handling

injuries?

Answer:

In simple terms, the main thing is a risk assessment, though

there are other considerations:

• Firstly, does the load need to be moved at all?

• If so, can it be moved mechanically?

• Can it be moved using a handling aid, such as a pallet truck,

an electric or hand-powered hoist, or a conveyor?

What factors contribute to manual

handling risk?

Task

Individual Capability

Load

Environment.

Case Study: Moving plasterboard

Manual Handling Considerations

&

Solutions / Equipment.

Blocks laying – above head height

Blocks laying – above head height

• Specify blocks less than 20kg

• Deliver close to the point of use and keep dry

• Prevent work above shoulder height or at feet level

• Adjust scaffold height and use spot boards.

Block laying - general

Structural steel beam installation

Handling aids – beam trolleys

Handling aids – beam lift

Handling aids - beams

Handling aids

Handling aids

Plasterboard on ceilings

Use a panel lifter

x

Reduce – manual handling

Rather than carrying

boards upstairs……

……can a letter box system be used………

…..or load out on floor required?

Other handling solutions

Kerbs – use mechanical handling

Photo courtesy of Loughborough University

X

Paving – use mechanical

handling

Block laying – handling aids

Window installation - external

Using vacc lift

Window installation - internal

Handling aid

Handling aids

Handling aids

Plasterboard

Handling

Common Board Weights

Size Type Weight

12.5mm x 1.2 x 2.4m Wallboard

15mm x 1.2 x 2.4m Fireline

15mm x 1.2 x 3.0m Fireline

15mm x 1.2 x 2.4m Soundbloc

15mm x 1.2 x 3.0m Soundbloc

15mm x 1.2 x 2.4m Duraline

15mm x 1.2 x 3.0m Duraline

Common Board Weights

Size Type Weight

12.5mm x 1.2 x 2.4m Wallboard 23kg

15mm x 1.2 x 2.4m Fireline 34kg

15mm x 1.2 x 3.0m Fireline 42kg

15mm x 1.2 x 2.4m Soundbloc 36kg

15mm x 1.2 x 3.0m Soundbloc 45kg

15mm x 1.2 x 2.4m Duraline 40kg

15mm x 1.2 x 3.0m Duraline 50kg

MH Training (Source HSE L23 Guidance)

• In determining the appropriate steps to reduce risk regard

shall be had in particular to knowledge & training.

• The HSW Act and Management Regulations require you to

provide your employees with health and safety information

and training.

MH Training Courses

Such information is likely to include advice on:

■ manual handling risk factors and how injuries can occur;

■ how to carry out safe manual handling, including good handling

technique;

■ appropriate systems of work for the individual’s task and

environment;

■ safe use of lifting and handling aids;

■ practical work to allow the trainer to identify and put right anything

the trainee is not doing safely.

Summary

Remember it’s the duty of the Employer to consider the

risk of injury to an Employee.

A Safe System of Work must always be established.

Just leaving it for the Employee to struggle is not

acceptable.

Thank You For Listening

&

Do You Have Any Questions?