One-in-three accidents at work are caused by manual handling. In 2022 out of the 1.8 million working people suffering from a work-related illness, 477,000 of them experienced problems from a job-related musculoskeletal disorder according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Furthermore, 300,000 people in the UK were troubled with back pain caused by manual handling incidents!
The material handling industry has been striving to design and manufacture equipment that can help to reduce these staggering numbers and provide workers with more safety advanced products that can provide more suitable methods of completing certain lifting tasks.
The term ‘manual handling’ means the involvement of lifting, carrying, moving or lowering of a load by hand or bodily force. The HSE offer very good guidance to help employers risk assess specific handling tasks and to provide information designed to limit the occurrence of injury.
A particular concern has been the manual handling of goods on stairways or steps. Often the unnatural position of the body when twisting and turning around stairwells, coupled with the increased effort required to lift the load when pulling from above, can cause bad posture, resulting in a back injury. Another area of importance is the lifting and moving of awkward loads that are difficult to manage safely without again positioning the operative in an unnatural position. Thankfully there are items of equipment designed specifically to help and assist with these areas of concern.
Electric Powered Bulk Handling Carts
A superb range of moving devices that are aimed particularly at the handling of awkward loads. There are three different models with capacities ranging from 350 – 450kg. There is a choice of two and three wheeled models available, with suitability to operate over all types of terrain. The 24 volt battery is easily re-chargeable giving a battery life of 20+ hours standby, with 1 hour loaded. This piece of kit will seriously help with awkward manual handling tasks and provide workers with a far safer means of handling the types of loads that can be the cause of workplace injuries.
Aluminium Stairclimber Truck
In addition, the Aluminium Stairclimber Truck has three models in the range, with capacities between 170 – 200kg. They are fitted with large 254mm diameter pneumatic wheels that help to move loads upstairs as well as up and down kerbs with ease. They are perfectly adapted to move office equipment, white goods, furniture and heavy boxes. They can operate up to 100 floor levels before re-charging is required and have two climbing speeds to suit the application.
So there we have it - two simple solutions to reduce work related accidents caused by poor manual handling. Invest in your workforce for a healthier future!
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