One-third of all accidents at work are caused by manual handling. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in 2022, 477,000 of the 1.8 million working people with work-related conditions will experience work-related musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, 300,000 people in the UK are suffering from back pain caused by manual handling events!

The material handling industry has been working hard to design and manufacture equipment to help reduce these staggering numbers and provide workers with more safe and advanced products that can provide a more suitable method of performing certain lifting tasks.

The term "manual handling" refers to the use of hand or body power involved in lifting, carrying, moving or lowering a load. HSE provides excellent guidance to help employers carry out risk assessments for specific handling tasks and provide information designed to limit the occurrence of injuries.

A particular concern is the manual handling of loads on stairs or steps. Often, the unnatural position of the body when twisting and turning between stairs, combined with the increased effort required to pull loads from above, can create poor posture and lead to back injuries. Another important area is lifting and moving bulky items that are difficult to manage safely without putting the operator in an unnatural position again. Thankfully, there is equipment specifically designed to help and assist in these areas.