Most projects and tasks,
both on the jobsite and in
the shop, involve handling
materials by manually lifting,
pushing, pulling, twisting,
carrying, and holding
a wide variety of materials,
tools, and equipment.
SMACNA has developed
a new guide to help members
prevent the injuries
related to these movements.
SMACNA’s new
Manual Materials Handling
Program is a written model
program that includes
roles and responsibilities,
risk factors, means of
prevention, a matrix of material
handling equipment,
sample checklists, and ten
Toolbox Talks for training
employees.
“It is imperative that
companies review their
material handling policies
and programs as part of
an effective safety culture,”
said Mike McCullion,
SMACNA’s director of
market sectors and safety.
“The injuries related to materials
handling can often
include significant workers
compensation claims due
to musculoskeletal injuries
to the back, neck, joints,
tendons, muscles, and
more.”
This new guide can
help prevent these injuries
before they happen. The
model written program
can also be customized
and edited to match a
company’s safety culture
beliefs and goals. It
provides practices and
procedures that can
protect workers from the
pain involved in these
injuries, the negative affect
on productivity, and the
increasing costs of related
medical care.
Members can receive a
free copy of SMACNA’s
Manual Materials Handling
Model Program on the
Model Programs section of
SMACNA’s Safety webpage.
For more information,
contact Mike McCullion,
director of market
sectors and safety
(mmccullion@smacna.org /
(703) 995-4027).