New Document Alert – Manual Handling – From the BDA

June 26, 2024

We’re pleased to announce the release of our latest document on “Manual Handling”, now available on the BDA website.

Manual handling is defined as any activity where transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force is required. Handling of rods, casings, or samples obtained during geotechnical investigations, from the drill site through to transportation of samples, to the laboratory testing technicians, often involves activities using manual handling.

Injuries that are sustained during this manual handling process commonly include:

• One-off injury, such as cuts, bruising, hernias, trap injuries/crushing
• Recurring injuries, such as strains and inflammatory diseases including tendonitis
• Long-term and chronic injuries such as spinal disc damage, or repetitive strain injuries

We need to protect against all of the above categories of injury when planning manual handling activities. Employers have a responsibility to avoid manual handling through the use of engineered solutions considered at the planning stages of an activity.

Read the document here: https://www.britishdrillingassociation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Manual-Handling-Final.pdf