Health & Safety and the main benefits of Manual Handling Trolleys. How can trolleys reduce Manual Handling Injuries?

How can trolleys reduce Manual Handling Injuries?

Manual Handling injuries are the biggest cause of injuries in the workplace. All employers must comply with the Health and Safety Legislation set by the HSE to reduce and prevent injury and ill health in the workplace. The HSE is a government department that sets the health and safety laws in the UK.

Manual Handling Trolleys
Trolleys are strong, easy to use wheeled platforms. Trolleys safely transport multiple, large or heavy products around the workplace including hazardous items, liquids and gases. Trolleys can be designed manually or electronically. specific trolleys can be lifted by a crane. Trolleys are designed in many different configurations, shapes and sizes and are available with or without shelves, baskets or step ladders. Trolleys are made for specific tasks with a large selection of trolleys available for all industries. From a standard design readily available to a bespoke custom design and build service trolleys are the perfect solution for manual handling tasks and help to reduce and prevent injury or ill health in the workplace.

By replacing the load from workers to wheels, the physical effort required is much lower reducing the strain on the worker allowing for safer and easier transportation of goods around the workplace.

The use of manual handling trolleys helps employers comply with health and safety legislation keeping the workplace safe from injury and ill health while keeping the workplace flowing and increasing productivity.

Trolleys drastically reduce:

• Back strain
• Shoulder injuries
• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

Musculoskeletal disorders are injuries and conditions that affect the back, joints and limbs of the body and can be caused by repetitive work, lifting heavy or bulky loads, bending crouching or stooping, carrying out tasks for a long time. (HSE)

Preventing injury

• Trolleys are designed to push or pull rather than lift and carry.
• If the trolley has them use the brakes to keep the trolley stable
• keep the trolley close do not twist or bend the body while loading or unloading
• Use correct lifting and lowering posture while loading and unloading
• Do not exceed maximum weight capacity

Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence.

By switching the load from person to wheels the strain on the body is reduced.
Reducing the strain on the body reduces the possibility of injury.

Health & Safety legislation
Employers must follow Health & Safety legislation set by the HSE and have a duty to fully train all workers in manual handling and all manual handling equipment used before the task commences.

• Manual handling Operations Regulations (MHOR)
• Workplace Health & Safety guidelines
• COSHH - The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. 
  
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

All employers have a legal duty to comply with the legislation set by the HSE to reduce and prevent injury and ill health in the workplace. Employers must fully train all workers before carrying out any tasks or using manual handling equipment. Once trained workers must follow all task procedures and handle items and equipment correctly as trained. Training must be ongoing and refreshed throughout employment.

Loading and unloading a trolley
It is very important that the trolley is loaded and unloaded correctly to reduce or prevent injury or ill health to workers and must comply with health and safety legislation. Lifting and lowering can cause injury and put strain on the body if performed incorrectly. Strain on the body can lead to injury. The worker must be able to load and unload a trolley safely without straining the body. Make sure the environment is suitable for the trolley and identify any hazards, such as uneven flooring or items blocking access. Taking the task into consideration, is the worker standing or seated for the task?. Is the load heavy, awkward, is the trolley suitable for the load? Does the worker have the capability to lift the goods and control the trolley?. Does the load need more than 1 person to lift? Does the worker have an existing injury or ill health.

Ergonomics
Can the worker load and unload a trolley without strain or injury? Trolleys can be built and designed to meet the ergonomics of the workforce and the manual handling task.The capabilities of the worker, the equipment and the size, weight and hazards of the goods impact on the strain of loading and unloading. Take into account the height, weight, strength, limitations, health and existing injury of the worker. What goods are being transported? Are they bulky or an awkward shape? How strong are the workers? are they strong enough to lift heavy goods? are they tall, can they reach high or low without strain? Do they have existing injuries or ill health that needs to be taken into account? Is the worker seated or standing? Many factors determine the capabilities of workers when manual handling and must be identified and risk assessed. Trolleys are available with many configurations such as higher shelves or attached step ladders to meet workers needs for carrying out specific tasks. Does the worker need to be seated? Many trolleys are available to allow a seated position while the worker loads and unloads goods. 
Loading and unloading a heavy item onto a big heavy trolley with the platform shelf low to the ground, does the worker have that strength to lift and lower that heavy item so low? the strain on the body is increased when moving an item from a distance. Is it a 2 person lift? is a crane needed? The higher and lower the lift the strain increases. Does the worker need ladders? Can a trolley with a raised shelf be designed to reduce the strain?

lifting and lowering
Correct Lifting and lowering set by the HSE is standard practice and mandatory in the work place. All workers must be fully trained and correctly lift carry and lower at all times as trained. Employers have a legal duty to train workers in manual handling before any manual handling tasks are carried out.

• keep your back straight
• bend your knees
• Stand forward facing the item

Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence.

Operating a trolley without straining the body
Trolleys are  designed to be pushed and pulled while walking.
Once the trolley has been loaded, it can be easily pushed or pulled to the designated area with ease.

Make sure the travel route is clear from obstruction. Both hands on the handles at all times, keep correct posture with the back straight, head up, walk slowly without twisting the body. Walk do not rush or run. 

Once the trolley has reached the designated area put the trolley as close to the surface the item will be placed on. If the trolley has them use the brakes to stabilise the trolley. Unload individual items one by one using the correct lifting and lowering technique.

The lighter and smaller the trolley the easier it is to manoeuvre with a reduced load capacity perfect for moving lighter and smaller items. The bigger and heavier the trolley the more difficult to manoeuvre with a larger load capacity used for moving large and heavy goods.. The correct trolley will depend on the workers capability and the task. A strong worker should be able to push/pull the bigger heavier trolley without strain. Using the correct trolley for the task the worker can control and manoeuvre the trolley with ease and less strain allowing the workplace to flow efficiently and safely while increasing productivity.

Summary
Manual handling trolleys are essential to reduce manual handling injury and help employers comply with HSE legislation

• prevent strain
• comply with legislation
• reduce musculorskeleton disorders and shoulder injurys
• increase workplace productivity
• Specific trolleys can be attached to a crane

Here at Breg Products we have a wide range of trolleys available.
Trolleys can be ordered as standard stock from our website or can be custom made using our bespoke design and build service to suit your needs. We also offer site visits.

We love to talk trolleys!
If you are unsure of the right trolley you need please call or email our sales team for a chat and discuss the best option for your workplace

telephone: 01484 469944
email: mail@bregproducts.co.uk