With manual handling being one of the most common causes of worker injury, it is vital to know what precautions to take to stay safe on hazardous sites in the engineering construction industry (ECI).
The official statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that 17% of all non-fatal injuries to workers in Great Britain in 2023/24 occurred when handling, lifting or carrying.
This was the second most common accident type reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), which requires employers to log certain worker injuries.
As part of a campaign focused on health and safety, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is publishing a series of top tips to help create a better safety culture in the ECI.
With health and safety training being one of the key contributors in helping reduce accidents and lost-time incidents on sites, the ECITB’s CCNSG Safety Passport course helps to develop a positive health and safety culture, where safe and healthy working becomes second nature to everyone.
With manual handling injuries so common in industry, tips from the CCNSG course Work Safety Handbook are designed to help keep you and your colleagues safe.
Manual handling – reducing the risks
Poor lifting and carrying techniques can result in discomfort and increase the risk of injury. These risks can be reduced by adopting the following eight simple precautions:
- Make full and proper use of aids when lifting and carrying, such as trolleys, chutes and access equipment.
- Always ask for help if you need it to lift something safely.
- Store heavy items between shoulder and hip height. Where possible only store small, light items above shoulder or below knee height.
- Use the legs and knees to bend and lift – do not stoop or bend your back.
- Avoid tasks which require stretching or twisting.
- Ensure that there are no sharp, hot or cold edges which could cause injury.
- Make full and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Report any problems or concerns associated with manual handling operations to a responsible person without delay.
The ECITB plays a vital role in ensuring Britain has workers with the skills industry needs both now and for the future.
This includes the essential health and safety skills and knowledge to keep both workers and their colleagues safe when operating in some of the most safety-critical environments in industry.
Find out more about the CCNSG Safety Passport and how to book a course
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