(image via Flickr)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for roughly one-third of all workplace injuries. Common MSDs include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower back injuries.

Just because your job isn't based around manual labour doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be affected by musculoskeletal problems. In this blog post, the SafetyLiftinGear team will share some health and safety tips that should help you and your employees/colleagues to steer clear of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace.

• Use ergonomic equipment. Perhaps the most common causes of workplace musculoskeletal disorders are poor posture and repetitive strain. Employers can address this by providing ergonomic equipment for their workers - you can get ergonomic chairs, keyboards, computer mice, and a variety of other items that are designed to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and related complaints.
  
  
• Lift heavy items properly. We recently published a safe lifting guide, which explains, step-by-step, how to lift heavy loads without injuring oneself. If you repeatedly lift heavy objects in a manner that puts strain on your body, it's likely you will end up with a workplace musculoskeletal disorder - so lift with care!
  
  
• Use the correct material handling equipment where necessary. Material handling injuries are very common across many different working environments. It's not always sensible to lift heavy objects using manpower alone - some loads should only be transported using a forklift, pallet truck, or similar.
  
  
• Carry out a workplace risk assessment. Conducting a thorough risk assessment is key to keeping the workplace safe for all who use it. Risk assessments should be carried out by trained health and safety personnel, and renewed whenever there is a significant change in the working environment.

By following these simple health and safety steps, you can drastically reduce your chances of a workplace musculoskeletal disorder. 

(image via Flickr)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for roughly one-third of all workplace injuries. Common MSDs include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower back injuries.

Just because your job isn't based around manual labour doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be affected by musculoskeletal problems. In this blog post, the SafetyLiftinGear team will share some health and safety tips that should help you and your employees/colleagues to steer clear of MSDs at work.

• Use ergonomic equipment. Perhaps the most common causes of musculoskeletal disorders - at least in office environments - are poor posture and repetitive strain. Employes can address these factors by providing ergonomic equipment for their workers - you can get ergonomic chairs, keyboards, computer mice, and a variety of other items that are designed to prevent MSDs and related complaints.
  
  
• Lift heavy items properly. We recently published a safe lifting guide, which explains, step-by-step, how to lift heavy loads without injuring oneself.
  
  
• Use the correct material handling equipment where necessary. Handling injuries are very common across many different working environments. It's not always sensible to lift heavy objects using manpower alone - some loads should only be transported using a forklift, pallet truck, or similar.
  
  
• Carry out a workplace risk assessment. Conducting a thorough risk assessment is key to keeping the workplace safe for all who use it. Risk assessments should be carried out by trained health and safety personnel, and renewed whenever there is a significant change in the working environment.

Heavy lifting can be dangerous, frequently resulting in injuries and accidents when done improperly. Here, courtest of the experts at SafetyLiftinGear, are some tips to help you stay safe next time you're lifting heavy objects:

• Plan your actions. Don't jump head-first into lifting a heavy item - think about what you're doing first. What route are you planning to take? Would it be possible to push or slide the load instead of lifting it? Can you lift it alone without putting yourself in harm's way, or do you need to call for help?
  
  
• Bend your knees. When you bend down to pick up the object in question, make sure you bend at the knees instead of at the waist. This will put the weight on your legs, rather than putting your back at risk.
  
  
• Get a good grip. Before you rise to a standing position, ensure that you have a good hold on the load that will not slip as you move.
  
  
• Keep it close. Don't hold the load at arm's length; instead, hug it close to your body (especially as you rise from picking it up).
  
  
• Take it slowly. Never rush when lifting and moving a heavy load - that's how accidents happen!
  
  
• Don't twist your spine. Twisting your body while carrying a heavy item can do a lot of damage - ensure that you're facing in the same direction as your feet at all times.
  
  
• Put it down properly. Don't simply drop the load when you reach your destination - find a suitable space to deposit the item, then bend at the knee and place it down gently.

One final tip: know when you're beaten! Some loads are simply too heavy to be lifted by manpower alone, and in situations like these, you may need to use specialist lifting equipment (e.g. slings, hoists, chains) to get the job done. Don't try to show off by lifting something that could get you hurt!

Heavy lifting can be dangerous, frequently resulting in injuries and accidents when done improperly. Here, courtest of the experts at SafetyLiftinGear, are some tips to help you stay safe next time you're lifting heavy objects:

• Plan your actions. Don't jump head-first into lifting a heavy item - think about what you're doing first. What route are you planning to take? Would it be possible to push or slide the load instead of lifting it? Can you lift it alone without putting yourself in harm's way, or do you need to call for help?
  
  
• Bend your knees. When you bend down to pick up the object in question, make sure you bend at the knees instead of at the waist. This will put the weight on your legs, rather than putting your back at risk.
  
  
• Get a good grip. Before you rise to a standing position, ensure that you have a good hold on the load that will not slip as you move.
  
  
• Keep it close. Don't hold the load at arm's length; instead, hug it close to your body (especially as you rise from picking it up).
  
  
• Take it slowly. Never rush when lifting and moving a heavy load - that's how accidents happen!
  
  
• Don't twist your spine. Twisting your body while carrying a heavy item can do a lot of damage - ensure that you're facing in the same direction as your feet at all times.
  
  
• Put it down properly. Don't simply drop the load when you reach your destination - find a suitable space to deposit the item, then bend at the knee and place it down gently.

One final tip: know when you're beaten! Some loads are simply too heavy to be lifted by manpower alone, and in situations like these, you may need to use specialist lifting equipment (e.g. slings, hoists, chains) to get the job done. Don't try to show off by lifting something that could get you hurt!

If you need to purchase an electric hoist, it's important to pick the right one for the job - using an insufficient or inappropriate hoist could have dire consequences for you and the people around you.

With this in mind, here is a short, helpful guide to SafetyLiftinGear's assorted electric hoist products:

• Weight Limit - Perhaps the most important thing to look at when buying an electric hoist is that hoist's weight capacity. Some heavy-duty hoists can lift loads of a tonne or more, while other electric hoists are only capable of managing 2-300kgs at a time. Be sure to check the weight limit before reaching the checkout.
  
  
• Voltage - Different places will use different operating voltages. For example, American power outlets usually operate at 110 volts, and so you would need a 110 volt hoist in this circumstances. Elsewhere, you may have to use a 240 volt outlet, in which case you'll need a 240 volt hoist (a 110 volt hoist would be damaged by any voltage above 110).
  
  
• Motor - Most of our electric hoists use a single phase motor. This is sufficient for most applications, although we do also supply three phase hoists for particularly demanding jobs.

If you have any further questions about our electric hoist range, give SafetyLiftinGear a call on 0808 123 69 69 or email sales@safetyliftingear.com.

It's hard to overestimate the risks associated with heavy lifting. Attempting to lift weighty goods on your own can result in severe injury, and using improper or poor-quality equipment can lead to all kinds of damage, both to the items being lifted and to the people involved.

With this in mind, we scarcely need to explain the importance of high-calibre lifting equipment. We at SafetyLiftinGear sell hundreds of different items to assist with heavy lifting; no matter what you're trying to lift, we almost certainly stock an appropriate piece of equipment for the job, so please don't attempt it without the right gear.

Here are some examples of the equipment that we can supply for heavy lifting purposes:

• Electric Hoists
• Beam Trolleys
• Chainblocks
• Leverhoists
• Magnets

This list, however, is just the tip of the iceberg - click here to see our full range of heavy lifting equipment.

It's hard to overestimate the risks associated with heavy lifting. Attempting to lift weighty goods on your own can result in severe injury, and using improper or poor-quality equipment can lead to all kinds of damage, both to the items being lifted and to the people involved.

With this in mind, we scarcely need to explain the importance of high-calibre lifting equipment. We at SafetyLiftinGear sell hundreds of different items to assist with heavy lifting; no matter what you're trying to lift, we almost certainly stock an appropriate piece of equipment for the job, so please don't attempt it without the right gear.

Here are some examples of the equipment that we can supply for heavy lifting purposes:

• Electric Hoists
• Beam Trolleys
• Chainblocks
• Leverhoists
• Magnets

This list, however, is just the tip of the iceberg - click here to see our full range of heavy lifting equipment.