Lifting heavy stuff

[muppet]

I think what B4bob means is that above 3kgs at reach a more indepth assessment of the procedure will have to be carried out. It doesn't mean that it can't be done.

 

See attached PDF, page 10, for further details.

HSE Manual handling.pdf

[beeswax]

When our lead science technician became pregnant last year, there were a couple of options if she wanted to work at a computer,

1. buy her an apron which would shield her and her embryo from any harmful rays given out by the crt monitor,

2. get her an lcd monitor.

[ICT_GUY]

Those seem a little low? A 3.5kg limit when reaching would prevent you doing most things, as even a slim desktop PC is over that.

 

Welcome to the nanny state.

[Pete10141748]

No training here, first job I've ever had where I haven't had to sit through the nightmare of the "first day training form signing / video watching"

 

As for the caretaker not helping others life things.....here, I get asked to help HIM move things!

[sidewinder]

I think you've got all the advice you need so I wont add any more

 

But that caretakers attitude is disgusting! I mean I know theres a fair few grumpy ones out there (including here) but even so I would expect them to at least help out a pregnant women!!

Sorry for the language but what a tosser!

[zag]

I've never heard of all this health and safety stuff before I started working in a school.

 

I can understand someone who is pregnant not lifting stuff, that's just common sense!

 

But risk assessments? Lifting training, County council rules on weights!!!! good god. I just get on and do it

[torledo]

As a follow on I work under North Yorks County Council (ish) rules. on their manual lifting training handout matrix, for a woman the threshhold loads for lifting from the floor is 7kg at your feet, 3.5kg if you have to reach/stretch. ( 10kg/5kg males.) Doesnt say you cant but you need assessment. Post the training weighed my site to site toolkit for a laff!

 

presumable having to reach means not being able to bend your knees i.e using the strength in your arms to lift something up. In which case 3.5kg seems reasonable for a woman, although there can't be many IT equipment that comes in at under that weight.

 

I've regularly lifted 20kg printers and the like up flights of stairs....it's close to the limit of what i can lift and transport safely over an extended distance. So a big white box pedestal server (which would be about 15kg's) i'd have no problems with...similarly 19" CRT monitors are quite straightforward although a bit awkward due to their bulk.

 

Although all the items above i would have thought people should get training on, as they are not straightforward lifts.

 

Anything above 25kg's and i'd defintely seek help. Wouldn't even consider lifting a big HP printer and i shouldn't lift 16 disk storage array on my own....as those things tend to weigh in excess of 40kgs. Unfortunately i have lifted an ibm storage array into a rack on my own....and i'm still feeling the effects. It was immensely heavy.

[laserblazer]

If you are ever waiting for an important phone call simply carry a 19" monitor up several flights of stairs. You can guarantee the phone will ring at the most inconvenient moment. Alternatively, climb a ladder to access a switch cabinet or projector.

[beeswax]

I've never heard of all this health and safety stuff before I started working in a school.

 

I can understand someone who is pregnant not lifting stuff, that's just common sense!

 

But risk assessments? Lifting training, County council rules on weights!!!! good god. I just get on and do it

 

There's also a legal aspect to this; have the council provided the training? Yes, they're in the clear; No, and they can have the pants sued off them.

Then there's the personal aspect. As someone who suffers from a prolapsed disc and who can "seize" up quite painfully from time to time, knowing how to lift a dead weight is important. Discs don't just "go", you have to work on them over time, and lifting things incorrectly is one way to wear them down.