SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING FOR INSPECTORS ON MHL 2008

1. 1 SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING FOR INSPECTORS ON MHL 2008

2. 2 Training for Inspectors – MHL 2008 Objectives: 1. explain the goals of MHL 2008, 2. rise awareness of requirements of MHL Regulations, 3. make inspectors aware of risk factors related to MHL, 4. rise awareness and understanding of control measures available, 5. ensure understanding the method for conducting MHL inspections, 6. present Inspection Tools and Risk Assessment Methods,

3. 3 The goals of SLIC Project “Manual Handling of Loads – 2007/2008” comprise two priorities: 1) improving the inspection and communication methods and 2) providing greater harmony in the enforcement of regulations on the manual handling of loads throughout the EU. The Transport and Care sectors were identified as targets for this campaign in 2007.

4. 4 Therefore the final goals of project are: To reach better compliance in the EU with EU Directive 90/269/EEC “Manual Handling of Loads” in order to reduce musculoskeletal disorders; To improve the inspection and communication methods of the national labour inspectorates by learning from existing methods and To reach greater harmony in the enforcement of legal provisions on the manual handling of loads throughout the EU i.e. EU Directive on the manual handling of loads to be implemented in a uniform and transparent way in the entire member states.

5. 5 Conclusions SLIC Manual Handling of Loads campaign 2007 25 SLIC countries (of 27) and 1 EFTA country participated, which is 92%, 84% of the inspections in both the transport and in the health care resulted in an intervention on manual handling of loads, inspections in transport: average 106 inspections per country, inspections in health care: average 126 inspections per country, number of participating inspectors in campaign: 1770, 1610 inspectors trained through „train the trainers”, the SLIC assessment guideline was widely used in the campaign, brochures were used in 23 out of 25 countries and well received.

6. 6 MHL 2007 Inspections in Transport In 22 countries, 790 inspectors inspected: 27% of all harbours in these countries, 44% of the airports, thereby a substantial number of transport companies was inspected, in total 2340 companies were inspected on: Risk assessment on manual handling of loads situations, Preventive measures taken to avoid baggage handling and stevedoring manually, Product loading, transhipment and unloading in general intervention took place in 1974 companies. Interventions can be divided into: verbal and written warnings, administrative fines, cessation of work and legal prosecution.

7. 7 MHL 2007 Inspections in Care In 24 countries, 980 inspectors inspected: 24% of all hospitals in these countries, 37% of the elderly homes, 16% of the homes for mentally/ physically handicapped persons, in total 3037 companies were inspected on: Risk assessment on manual handling of loads situations, Preventive measures in patient handling, Preventive measures in facility services (catering, laundry), Other topics inspected were the training and education of the staff. intervention took place in 2543 companies. Interventions can be divided into: verbal and written warnings, administrative fines, cessation of work and legal prosecution.

8. 8 The campaign conducted in 2008 will focus on the following actions and products: Communication campaign using the Internet and mass media, Training for labour inspectors, conducted at a national level, based on common European auxiliary methodological and training materials, Publications for the Construction and Retail Trade sector, Inspection campaign implemented on the basis of common guidelines on the strategy of preventing the risk of injury during manual handling of loads; A seminar summing-up the two-year campaign “Manual Handling of Loads”. The Construction and Retail Trade sectors were identified as targets for MHL 2008 campaign.

9. 9 EMPLOYERS' OBLIGATIONS The employer shall take appropriate organizational measures, or shall use the appropriate means, in particular mechanical equipment, in order to avoid the need for the manual handling of loads by workers. Where the need for the manual handling of loads by workers cannot be avoided, the employer shall take the appropriate organizational measures, use the appropriate means or provide workers with such means in order to reduce the risk involved in the manual handling of such loads.

10. 10 Wherever the need for manual handling of loads by workers cannot be avoided, the employer shall organize workstations in such a way as to make such handling as safe and healthy as possible and: assess, in advance if possible, the health and safety conditions of the type of work involved, and in particular examine the characteristics of loads; take care to avoid or reduce the risk particularly of back injury to workers, by taking appropriate measures, considering in particular the characteristics of the working environment and the requirements of the activity.

11. 11 Key focus of the regulations is on prevention of injury through three-level approach: 1) Level 1 - Risk Assessment 2) Level II - Avoidance of Manual Handling 3) Level III - Reduction of Manual Handling See more: http://osha.europa.eu/topics/msds/slic

12. 12 Retail trade Main risk factors in the Retail Trade Sector: complex structure of the activity, e.g. unloading pallets – manual handling of loads in case of a large height difference, handling operations with the use of platforms, varied sizes of packaging, packaging systems and team work; forced body position, e.g. removing and placing goods on the shelves which have been positioned above the shoulder line, work at the check-out, transportation of white goods at staircases; high frequency of manual handling operations (e.g. placing goods on shelves, moving goods from one pallet to another) and high pace of work, work in changing indoor and outdoor microclimate; combined hazards connected with energy loss and thermal discomfort; women's work: exceeding permissible limits connected with manual handling of loads.

13. 13 Target groups of the campaign in the Retail Trade Sector: distribution centres: workers engaged in loading goods onto pallets, roll-cages, workers operating hand trucks; warehouses of supermarkets e.g. workers employed at goods receipt section and workers of various sections at the supermarket – manual unloading and reloading of goods, workers operating hand trucks; companies dealing with delivery of goods (audio-visual equipment, white goods, sanitary facilities etc.); workers dealing with home deliveries – manual carrying of loads up the stairs.

14. 14 Self-check out is to reduce the queues and satisfy the customers, but it can be seen as an idea how to reduce the quantity of loads carried by the cashiers during scanning items. Here, the cashier is only to help the customer with using the self-check out.

15. 15 Mobile stairs – how to put the goods on the higher shelves safely? When a worker steps up, the stairs wheels are blocked and the construction is stable and safe.

16. 16 Weighing scale – is used to recognize the quantity of items. The worker does not have to take the goods one by one to check the quantity. It is enough to know the weight of unit.

17. 17 Even in narrow warehouses it is possible to make a comfortable working space. This table can be easily hidden.

18. 18 Intervention of inspector allowed for sustainable modification of packing habits in distribution center eliminating not only absolutely unnecesary repacking of goods in supermarket warehouse but also many additional risks (e.g. falling objects due to packing heavier goods at the top of roll cage, excessive height and weight of packed roll cage etc.).

19. 19 Construction Sector - main risk factors loads of awkward shapes, e.g. long elements of the roofing structure, prefabricated elements, construction modules, sheets of metal in roofing work, roof tiles, plaster-cardboard panels used in finishing work, glass panels, pipes, work performed in confined spaces, e.g. earthworks, work in roof voids, vertical transportation in transportation shafts, loads of undefined weight, e.g. dismantling various elements of a building, handling of loads on uneven surfaces, handling of loads in changing indoor and outdoor microclimate,

20. 20 Construction Sector – target groups – groups of people exposed to the risk present in: loading/unloading of construction materials, raising/lowering a load to a different height, earthworks and pipeworks, reinforcement works, glazing works, masonry works, paving slabs and kerbs laying works, instalation of various equipment at height (e.g. electrical, mechanical).

21. 21 Gripping devices for pavement flagstones

22. 22 Using knee pads

23. 23 Vacuum sucker for transporting 300 kg pavement flagstones – convenient even for rough surfaces

24. 24 Gripping device for kerbstones

25. 25 Raising the height of a mortar spot board reduces the risk of injury from repeated bending

26. 26 Panel trolley and board lifting tool

27. 27 The effects of the campaign should include not only making workers and employers aware of the hazards related to the manual handling of loads, but first and foremost a sustainable change in their working habits – in the way work is planned, organised and performed. Manual handling of loads must be eliminated wherever it is possible. It can and should be eliminated e.g. by the use of mechanical aids, organizational solutions for warehousing of goods, etc. If it is absolutely necessary to handle loads manually, the work should be performed in a way safe for worker’s health, in accordance with ergonomic requirements.

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29. 29 A. Identify and evaluate the risks To conduct complete identification of risks and evaluation of their influence on workers’ health it is necessary to: train individuals to conduct occupational risk assessment (knowledge of risks in the field, characteristics of work, methods of risk assessment in manual handling activities), observe the process of work (methods of work, working environment, load, a worker), identify risks, their causes and effects.

30. 30 B. Prevention measures The aim is to eliminate the risk or reduce it, by: introducing mechanical equipment, securing proper supporting equipment for manual handling activities, organising the process of the work so as to secure optimal working space and rest periods, training of workers in the proper use of lifting aids and manual handling techniques, informing workers about the characteristics of the load, increasing workers’ knowledge about the risks associated with manual handling activities, integrating health and safety into the general management of the company,

31. 31 C. Periodic risk assessment Risk assessment conducted only once is insufficient. To prevent escalation of risk, it is necessary to conduct periodic occupational safety and health assessments. It might be advisable to encourage workers to engage in physical activity which would improve their fitness and well-being.

32. 32 Inspection Methodology for Manual Handling: review of activities taking place on site; evidence of work with significant manual handling, request documentation including risk assessments, accident and injury records, safety statement and training records, tour of site and observation of manual handling activities where feasible; inspector may take photos and record relevant details related to the activity such as weights involved, lifting techniques etc., Inspector observe employees at the worksite as they perform tasks, asking about the work, and recording their answers, inspector may use Tools of Risk Assessment, Decide on intervention; Inspector may take enforcement action on site based on risk factors, activity or documentation observed or may refer to an ergonomist for further advice/follow up. The checklists used for the inspection programme in each country must allow for flexibility but must consider information relevant to evaluation lists.

33. 33 Enforcement action should be considered where: There is evidence of manual handling activities on site and there is no documented risk assessment, There is evidence of manual handling risk factors, e.g. heavy unit weights are being lifted manually on site, and no efforts have been made to provide mechanical aids or complete a risk assessment.

34. 34 There are two methods, which fulfil the requirements for risk assessment of MHL in practice on screening level: MAC and KIM. Both methods are elaborated with special reference to EU directive. These are methods recommended and applied in the UK and Germany, which can be broken down as follows: Identification of risks Listing of risk factors Assessment of each factor

35. 35 Key Item Method From Germany and applied in DE, AT, CH, EE, SI, NZ and other countries, SE is interested in it, Developed for risk assessment on the screening level in case of MHL, 2 different worksheets for: lifting, holding and carrying pushing and pulling Task description and assessment are separated; task description is objective without evaluation

36. 36 Manual Handlings Assessment Charts From HSE (UK) and applied in UK, Initially produced to help HSE inspectors develop their knowledge and confidence in tackling manual handling issues, Based on biomechanical, physiological and psychological studies, 2 different worksheets for: lifting, carrying, team handling

37. 37 Manual Handlings Assessment Charts MAC identifies risk factors for three types of manual handling (lifting, carrying and team handling), It helps to identify which tasks in a workplace need improvement first, MAC uses a score sheet where the user describes the task and then the risk factors, MAC is used by inspectors, employers and employees including safety representatives

38. 38 The results are estimation of risk level and reasons for measurements (redesign, medical care). The reason is to estimate: The seriousness of damage , The probability of occurrence, The frequency of exposure, Level 1 : checklist on work task and physical demands Level 2 : KIM or MAC or national method Level 3 : specific working analysis

39. 39 The Manual Handling of Loads Regulation is focused on prevention through effective risk assessment of work systems Need more focus on the examination of work activity with a view to making better design or improvements to avoid/reduce handling Task Specific Risk Assessment must be completed Appropriate measures must be put in place to avoid, reduce or reorganise manual handling in systems of work Manual Handling Training is not a sufficient intervention and has limited impact.

40. 40 www.handlingloads.eu www.osha.europa.eu