Manual Handling
Approximately twenty seven percent of all manual handling LTI/Ds (lost time injuries and diseases reported where an employee is off work for one day or more) occur in the building and construction industry. Almost half of these injuries involve the lower back and they often result in employees being unable to continue working in the building and construction industry.
In the construction industry many work tasks involve manual handling building materials, products and equipment or setting up working platforms. You may be required to lift or move things like timber or steel, bags of cement, ladders and power tools.
Your employer should train you and make sure you follow safe manual handling methods. Get someone to help you lift heavy items and use a builders' hoist, trolley or wheel barrow to lift and move items safely. Never overload a wheel barrow or trolley. It is safer to make an extra trip.
 | | Even though you may be young and new to the job you should speak up if you feel the job is too heavy, too difficult, too tiring or puts you at risk of injury. |
An example of the manual handling risks bricklayers face in the building industry can be found in the case study Handling Fast Wall Lintels.
