Farm safety - Preventing manual handling injuries

Preventing manual handling injuriesYou can reduce the risk of manual handling injuries in many ways. Ensure that workers:

• Remain hydrated by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.
• Exercise regularly to improve and maintain fitness and stamina.
• Improve their health and fitness (especially unfit workers). Only allow a worker to perform a task if you are confident they can handle it.
• Eat a well-balanced diet – always provide healthy, nutritious meal options if you are required to feed workers.
• Stretch and warm up before shearing with gentle exercises and cool down afterwards with slow, continuous stretches – your doctor or physical therapist can provide advice about safe stretching to avoid further injury.
• Take regular breaks to alleviate fatigue.
• Protect their backs by paying attention to good workplace and equipment design (ergonomics), posture and using supportive braces.
• When handling a sheep, keep the animal close to their body and lift with their thigh muscles.
• Work in yards and handling areas that are designed to minimise the handling and lifting of sheep.
• Always get help when lifting heavy loads or use a hoist.