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Manual handling: moving trolleys 

Manual Handling: reducing manual handling injuries when moving trolleys.

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. What is manual handling?
  3. General problems and solutions
  4. Problems
  5. Solutions

1. Introduction

This pamphlet provides information on ways of reducing manual handling injuries when moving trolleys. It is important for people who work in hotels, hospitals, shops, libraries, workshops, factories or other workplaces where moving trolleys is part of the job.

2. What is manual handling?

When moving trolleys, manual handling means lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, moving, holding or restraining trolleys of all shapes and sizes. Moving trolleys may be associated with shelf stacking or stacking pallets. These tasks are covered by other brochures in this series.

3. General problems and solutions

Manual handling hazards are covered by the general duty provisions in the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Specific requirements for hazard identification, risk assessment and control are established by Regulation 3.4 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996.

The Code of Practice for Manual Handling provides practical guidance on the identification, assessment and control of risks associated with manual handling at work.

It is important to consult with employees performing the tasks, as they are likely to be aware of the risk of manual handling injuries which may be associated with their jobs.

Manual handling tasks likely to be a risk to workers' safety and health should be identified and assessed in detail to determine the nature and the extent of the problems.

Risk control means finding solutions to the problems.

The following general problems and suggested solutions are examples of how manual handling injuries may be reduced.

4. Problems

Strain injuries may occur when:

  • trolleys are difficult to manoeuvre;
  • trolley wheels are poorly maintained;
  • the trolleys and their loads are too heavy when other risk factors, such as the number of times a trolley is moved or the workplace layout, are taken into account;
  • surfaces over which trolleys are pushed are uneven or mismatched;
  • trolleys are moved over large distances or up steep slopes;
  • trolleys are difficult to grip due to the absence or poor location of handles; and
  • the person pushing the trolley is unable to see over the load.

5. Solutions

Here are some ideas that may be suitable for your workplace.

The examples provided may need to be used in combination with each other. Other risk control strategies, for example training, form part of any well thought out solution.

  • replace trolleys with automatic conveyors;
  • mechanise the movement of trolleys, eg. use a trolley towing device;
  • ensure trolley wheel size and type are suitable for the job;
  • provide wheel tracking mechanisms;
  • reduce the weight of the trolley;
  • reduce the weight of the load placed on the trolley;
  • it is safer to push rather than pull a trolley;
  • provide trolley brakes;
  • provide an appropriate trolley handle design;
  • locate trolley handles at a height which suits the worker;
  • restrict the maximum stacking heights of trolleys to improve visibility, weight and posture for users;
  • ensure regular pre-planned maintenance of trolleys;
  • provide low gradient ramps; and
  • provide automatically opening doors.

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