15.11.2021, 23:45
Safety in Manual Handling
Handling and transporting supplies and equipment is a daily requirement for most facilities but one that needs to be managed in accordance with current health and safety guidelines.
Facilities managers need to be aware of multiple health and safety regulations relating to the manual handling and transportation of packages and machinery within buildings.
Establishing a comprehensive, documented manual handling process often represents a good start as information can be communicated to staff, and training provided to ensure they follow safe practices during their shifts.
Creating a manual handling process from scratch might seem challenging, however, unless it is approached in a logical and systematic way.
Requirements for a Workable Manual Handling Policy
If your organisation doesn’t already have a written manual handling process, then you need to create one. Check out examples of a manual handling procedure to see what you need to include. You can also tailor parts of the procedure to your organisation and workplaces so that your team has access to a comprehensive guide to manual handling within your company.
Conduct Regular Manual Handling Training
While providing a written procedure for manual handling, you also need to make sure that you review your team’s comprehension of it and provide them with practical training on a regular basis. Host regular manual handling training with your team, and make sure new staff get support with this process as part of the onboarding process. Use your written process to inform your manual handling training and work with your team to ensure that they understand the practical implications of the document.
Use Warning Labels To Indicate Manual Handling Procedures
While your staff might be aware of your manual handling process and what they need to do, when they’re working, they might not notice certain issues. For example, if an item weighs too much for one person to carry, it might not be obvious to someone who is simply looking at it. As such, you should consider using warning labels to clarify what needs to be done. Label Source offers a range of bright labels that can be placed on boxes or crates, so anyone handling them is fully aware of what safety procedures need to be put in place.
Keep Reviewing Your Manual Handling Practices
As your business grows and evolves, your manual handling process and other health and safety procedures need to change as well. As such, you should allocate time every year, or every few months depending on your company’s growth rate, to review your manual handling practices. If you find that they are no longer compatible with current working environments or procedures, then you need to adjust them to ensure that your staff stay safe at all times. Adapting your process regularly will ensure that it is always relevant and completely compliant with the latest changes to manual handling regulations that apply to the facilities management sector.
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