Manual handling: gestures and postures to adopt

In this article, we present the gestures and postures to adopt in the context of manual handling.

What are the gestures and postures of manual handling to favor?

Manual handling is defined by the Labour Code as “any operation of transport or support of a load, the lifting, installation, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving, requiring the physical effort of one or more workers”.

People who are faced with manual handling of heavy loads are at higher risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (or MSDs), which are painful and debilitating diseases that affect joints, muscles and tendons. Professional activity can cause or aggravate them, so it is necessary to look for alternatives to manual handling in order to improve health as well as gestures and postures at work.

In order to minimize the risk of injury or the development of musculoskeletal disorders, it is important to think about how to work, how to carry heavy loads, distribute the pressure and get to safety.

If you suffer from diseases or disorders that affect your daily life and your health at work, you must consult an occupational physician who will carry out an assessment of your ability to hold your position.

He will advise the employer and workers on:

• Occupational risks
• Improving working conditions
• Prevention of alcohol and drug use in the workplace
• Prevention of psychological or sexual harassment
• Hard work and professional disintegration
• Keeping workers in employment

What are the risk factors?

Professional activity creates different risk factors:

• Physical or biomechanical factors that include repetitive gestures, posture, carrying heavy loads, static work, intense effort on the joints…
• Psychosocial factors that include monotony of work, time pressure, lack of autonomy…
• Environmental factors: cold, vibrations, shocks, lighting quality, noise…
• Organizational factors: imposed cadence, time, pressure, task control, relationships…

How to avoid musculoskeletal disorders at work?

Avoiding musculoskeletal disorders at work and reducing occupational risks is quite possible! Facilitate material handling operations by adapting your employees’ workstations with our solutions and products. Contact our technical sales team now who will study your project and offer you the solution best suited to your needs.

Why follow a training on gestures and postures?

Today, there are training courses that allow workers to learn the right gestures and postures to adopt in order to limit the risks related to handling such as accidents at work and occupational diseases. Thanks to these trainings where there are practical applications, employees are able to ensure their own safety and that of others during handling operations.

The employer is responsible for the occupational health of his employees, he implements preventive actions that make it possible to be more aware of safety and protection at work, in particular, by providing safety equipment (safety shoes, gloves, helmets …).

You now know the manual handling gestures and postures to adopt at work. If you want to equip yourself or learn more about our solutions, do not hesitate to contact us!