Manual Handling

Question 1

What does PErforM stand for?

Answer 1

Participative Ergonomics for Manual tasks

Question 2

What percentage of non fatal workplace compensation claims is accounted to musculoskeletal disorders?

Answer 2

65%

Question 3

What is a musculoskeletal disorder?

Answer 3

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are injuries of muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, ligaments, cartilage or spinal discs.

Question 4

Is training someone how to lift (proper procedures) properly enough to minimise injury?

Answer 4

No, training people dosesnt eliminate the risk. It’s more important to do a risk assessment and eliminate or minimise the risk in the first place.

(seen in Harvard study - reference)

Question 5

What are the risk factors to look out for?

Answer 5

Forceful exertions 
Awkward positions 
Static positions/ postures 
Repetition 
Duration 
Vibration

Question 6

When installing a new method (or equipment) to minimise risk is general training enough?

Answer 6

No, training should be specific to the task or piece of equipment.

Question 7

What are 2 ways to get manual task related injuries?

Answer 7

Single one off exposure
- due to maximum exertion or an overload incident (quite rare)

Repeated exposure
- ongoing wear and tear (more common)

(could be a combination of both of the above)

Question 8

Define awkward and static postures/ positions

Answer 8

Awkward posture: when joints are near the extent of their movement or have moved from their neutral position (e.g. when is head is bent so your ear is touching your shoulder)

Static postion: prolonged sitting and standing (whole body is kept in the same position for a long period of time)

Question 9

What is the PERFORM definition of repetition?

Answer 9

completing the same task many times - the task has a short cycle time (10 to 30 seconds)

Question 10

What is the PERFORM definition of duration?

Answer 10

the amount of time exposed to a risk factor (doing a task) without a break. Is bad when it is longer than 1 hour.

can cause strain, wear and tear on the body

Question 11

What are some ways to deal with risk factors?

Answer 11

Elimination 
Engineering 
Substitution 
Isolation - (using a machine rather than your self)
Team lift

Question 12

What are some examples of risks in RT?

Answer 12

Patslide
Picking up linen sheets (can weigh up to 15kg)
Assisting a patient off the bed
Static postures - (standing/sitting for a period of time)
Wheel chair to bed transfer
Fitting an electron applicator - approx. weighs 7.25kg and your lifting it above you head to fit it into the collimator (to minimise risk you could rotate gantry)

Lasers are 120cm off the ground - could be very dangerous to move the patient off

Working in low light

Question 13

Whats the minimum number of people that you should have for a PAT SLIDE?

Answer 13

4

Question 14

What is a PERFORM team made up of

Answer 14

Made up of staff (usually one representative) and then outside management

Question 15

What is a PCBU?

Answer 15

A person conducting a business or undertaking