Manual handling is the standard activity in most workplaces today. Whether it is a construction site or a warehouse, manual handling is undoubtedly the most common activity in these workplaces. However, incorrect manual handling can be very risky for your health. With it being the leading cause of musculoskeletal disorders at work, knowing how much you can lift safely and using appropriate handling techniques is crucial. In this blog, we will help you learn the term “LITE,” which is associated with safe manual handling techniques.
According to the National Safety Council, overexertion, including injuries related to incorrect manual handling practices, is the third leading cause of work-related injuries in the United States, accounting for over 30% of all workplace injuries and illnesses. As stated, it is important for a person to be aware of how long they can safely live while using good handling techniques. And for that, we would have to think LITE.
What is LITE?
If you have studied manual handling techniques, you might be familiar with the term “LITE.” But what does it really mean? Actually, LITE is a manual handling acronym that evaluates the process used to handle a task.
LITE stands for:
L – The Load being handled
I – The Individual/s carrying out the work
T – The Task
E – The workplace Environment or basically the ergonomics
LITE is an acronym that helps a person carry out an effective manual handling risk assessment in their workplace. Basically, conducting a risk assessment while keeping all the terms of LITE included in your risk assessment would help you carry out an effective assessment. By considering LITE, you would be able to identify and analyze all the problems related to manual handling and take appropriate actions against them to control the risks.
Now let’s take a deeper look at the key areas of LIET in terms of manual handling.
LOAD
A load is more than just its weight. You might think that your body could lift heavy loads, but doing so improperly could seriously harm you. There are other factors that are also considered while lifting a heavy object. When performing a risk assessment according to LITE manual handling processes, the primary aspect to consider is the nature of the manual handling task being performed.
The load sometimes makes the job more stressful and, therefore, should be thoroughly assessed. Loads might be large, heavy, or bulky. Sometimes the weight might not even be distributed correctly. There might not be a point on the object to get a better grip. Sometimes the size can make it hard for the worker to move and see ahead. Does the object have any sharp edges that could harm someone?
It is always recommended to get help from mechanical aids or vehicles. You can just put your own health at risk, so getting help from tools that are designed for such tasks could be the most sensible decision.
INDIVIDUAL/S
Your risk assessment, while considering the term individual/s, would be to assess whether the manual handling task being conducted is either done by an individual or a group of workers. Even with a well-organized workplace with a convenient load, problems could still arise if the employees choose to use improper manual handling techniques. There is still a lot that individual workers can do to reduce the strain by adopting appropriate lifting and handling techniques. One solution could be to get your workers properly trained by providing them with the appropriate manual handling training. Doing so would educate them on how to properly conduct manual handling tasks, whether done individually or in groups. Training can be the key solution to most of your workplace problems. Employees that are well trained are more likely to effectively carry out their tasks, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
Psychosocial elements that should be considered when assessing individuals include:
- Tight deadlines
- The pace of the work
- Lack of control over work practices
TASK
This component of LITE refers to the kind of task you are performing at your workplace. Therefore, you must take into account the manual handling activity itself. What does the task involve, and how could it impact your safety and health? For instance, does the task require uneven weight distribution or repetitive movements?
For example, these could be the following manual handling tasks in a warehouse operation:
- Uploading vehicles
- Moving stocks into the warehouse
- Picking customer orders
- Loading vehicles with outbound orders
Manual handling tasks in an office environment might include:
- Transporting files
- Removing rubbish
- Moving stationery supplies
- Moving equipment or furniture
Assessing the task involves watching out for awkward postures while manually lifting objects that could potentially result in strains.
The first posture to check for is a waist-bending position. In an upright position with all three of its natural curves present, your back is at its safest. Leaning forward, however, makes a significant difference in this. To balance the weight of the upper body, the back muscles contract.
Even though your co-workers may not stay in these bent positions for very long, if they do so repeatedly over time, problems could arise. The burden on the back increases with the amount of bending. The pressure on their backs is lessened by bending their knees and maintaining a more upright posture. The forces acting on the lower back increase with the horizontal distance of the load from the body. The strain on the back is considerably reduced by keeping a load close to the body.
Twisting at the waist puts additional stress on your back as well. The strain could rise depending on where the load’s center of gravity is. Try to lessen forces and keep the center of gravity as close to your body as possible to lessen strain. Move your feet and keep the load in front of you.
An individual’s capacity may be exceeded if they lift too much at once. Splitting loads can aid in restricting forces to a suitable level. Even a relatively light load can put a lot of strain on the lower back if lifting is done while also bending and twisting at the waist.
ENVIRONMENT
The last step in the TILE is to assess the ergonomics of the workplace. Ergonomics is the process of arranging and designing workplaces, products, and systems so that they can fit the people who are involved with them or use them. The workplace environment plays an important role, as those working would always require a suitably designed workplace that sits according to their needs.
You should keep an eye out for elements in your workplace that might make it risky for people to lift or handle loads safely. Obstacles at work, possibly brought on by messy spaces, can force people to lift in awkward positions that raise the risk of injury or accidents.
Examples include:
- Having to lean over and lift at arm’s length
- Twisting from the waist
- Lifting either above the shoulder or below the knee height
It is your responsibility as an employer to emphasize all the dangerous postures of your workers while manually handling objects. As repetitive improper techniques for long periods of the day can pose a serious risk to the person’s health.
You should always look for ways to improve the workplace environment. Figuring out what measures or aids could be installed to help in the manual handling activities at your workplace.
Conclusion
In conclusion, manual handling is vital to many jobs across various industries. However, if not done correctly, it can lead to serious injuries, such as musculoskeletal disorders, strains, and sprains. The LITE strategy provides a useful framework to help workers minimize the risk of injury and improve manual handling techniques. By considering each component of LITE, workers can identify potential hazards and take steps to reduce the risk of injury. This can help reduce the number of workplace injuries, improve efficiency and productivity, and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. Therefore, employers and workers must apply the LITE strategy when handling loads and performing manual handling tasks to prevent injuries and maintain a safe working environment.
