Manual Handing and Musculoskeletal Health in the Workplace
By Alayne Hamilton
Ergonomics: non-desk based work
We’ve talked a lot about desk based work of late with many people taking time away from the office to work from home.
But…
For a lot of industries sitting at a desk all day is just not a reality!
As COVID restrictions continue to ease and people return to a level of normality in the workplace, here are some considerations for those whose jobs require either an increased level of activity or a wider variety of activities.
There are very few workplaces where manual handling is not required on some level; and we’re not just talking about lifting and carrying heavy objects. A wide variety of tasks from waiting tables to driving a forklift to landscaping have the potential to lead to musculoskeletal injury through maintaining sustained postures, repetitive strain, exposure to vibration or use of significant physical force.
Safe work Australia reports that in the 2014-2015 financial year 107,355 serious claims were lodged and 90% of these claims were made due to injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. 43.8% of these serious claims were in relation to trauma sustained to a musculoskeletal structure; bone, ligament, tendon or muscle.
If you do need to regularly lift loads around the workplace, either great or small; keep the following tips from Corporate Work Health Australia in mind to protect yourself from injury.
Corporate Work Health Australia: Manual Handling Poster(Link above to higher quality image)
Some further considerations for varied workplaces…
Driving:
People whose jobs demand regular hours of driving should ensure that their driving position is optimised, especially when using shared company vehicles, Take the time to adjust seat positioning (height, low back support, seat base, backrest and distance from pedals), mirrors and steering wheel whenever you enter the vehicle. Take regular breaks throughout the day and avoid working from the vehicle where possible to avoid neck strain(i.e. working on a laptop seated in the car).
Footwear:
Whether you’re on your feet all day in retail or stomping around a construction site, don’t underestimate the importance of good quality footwear! Work boots/shoes should be comfortable and supportive as well as functional to avoid foot, lower limb or back pain.
Occupational health and safety factors that should be taken into account when assessing the appropriateness of footwear for work include; protection from dropped items through a steel or composite toe, non-slip soles, adequate cushioning for prolonged standing or standing on hard surfaces, adequate contact area with the ground (i.e. small pointed heels provide little contact), secure fastenings, work boot compliance with Australian standards.
Flat, enclosed shoes that meet the specific requirements of your work environment and are comfortable are universally the best option.
Even if you have an active or physically demanding job it’s important to still follow the Australian Physical Activity Guidelines in order to reap the mental and physical benefits of regular activity. See our last blog about safely returning to sport post-COVID.
If you’re returning to work and are already implementing new systems or procedures due to COVID-19, what better time to reassess hazards around the workplace and consider how these can be minimised? For tips on how to reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders in your workplace have a look at; Safe Work Australia: Home and WorkSafe Tasmania: Home.