What are manual handling injuries?
Manual handling injuries are associated with overexertion of physical stress when lifting, carrying, moving or holding an object. Injuries from handling loads are usually sprains and strains to muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints, or bruises and fractures from dropped loads. It is not only lifting that leads to manual handling injuries. Jobs that involve repetitive movements or working in an awkward position for a long time can lead to cumulative strain. Unlike a knife cut or broken bone, the injury does not occur at one particular moment, but is the cumulative effect of the daily strain and fatigue to muscles and ligaments. Manual handling is also associated with occupational overuse syndrome (also known as RSI) which refers to a range of conditions characterized by discomfort or persistent pain in muscles, tendons and other soft tissues. Some of these are: • Carpal tunnel syndrome; • Epicondylitis; and • Tenosynovitis. Here are some examples of manual handling injuries taken from
