Manual Handling TILE | Dynamic Risk Assessment

Manual Handling TILE If you have ever taken manual handling training, it's likely you may have came across the manual handling TILE acronym. In terms of manual handling, the TILE acronym stands for Task, Individual, Load, and Environment: This is also often extended to TILEO (to include 'Other Factors'). Sometimes, you will also hear LITE in manual handling training - it's simply a rearranging of the letters and will usually relate to the same principles. Before we move on to learning more about the individual elements of Manual Handling TILE principles, let's take a quick peak at why manual handling training is so important across different industries. Manual Handling Injuries | Why Worry? In Ireland, Manual handling injuries are the most common workplace injury (see image), with over 30% physical injuries relating to the back, arm or shoulders. For GB, in the 2020/21 business year, there were approximately 470,000 (yes, ~0.5 Million!) work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) disorder cases. 81% of these were related to the upper limbs, neck or back. How much lost time does this equate to for the workforce I hear you ask?! HSA Injury Statistics 2019 The HSE (GB) estimates that 8.9 Million working days were lost due to these MSK disorders. Manual handling, awkward or tiring positions and keyboard work (DSE) or repetitive action are regarded as the key causes of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. https://youtu.be/ODNO4RSvBco Check out bitesize Manual Handling training video right here. Don't forget, if you or your team would like to take our certificated online course on Manual Handling, you can enrol right now in our free Manual Handling course. What does TILE stand for in Manual Handling? The manual handling TILE acronym that aims to help you carry out a manual handling risk assessment. Using TILE or TILEO prompts you to consider each essential area of the activity in order to reduce the risk of injury. T | Task This means considering the manual handling activity itself, i.e. the lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing or pulling, and looking at how it may affect your health and safety. For example, does the task involve repetitive movements, strenuous movements, long distances, or uneven weight distribution? In most workplace manual handling scenarios, the priority should be to avoid, before assessing and reducing risk where employees are required to perform manual handling tasks. Products to Help Avoid Manual Handling I | Individual This means considering the person who will be carrying out the manual handling activity, i.e. you or another colleague. The physical attributes of an individual as also important to consider. For example, how strong, fit or able is the person? Is manual handling something they do on a daily or regular basis? An essential aspect of assessing the individual is considering how much instruction and manual handling training they have received. Do they need more training before carrying out the task? L | Load This means considering the object or person that is being moved, and looking at how this may affect health and safety. For example, is the load particularly heavy, bulky, hard to grasp or unstable? If so, have you really considered all of the