Manual Handling Case Study 10 Hospital Laundry Handling

On Screen text: Laundry Handling and Lifting Bags onto Linen Cages
Hospital staff sorting linen onto laundry bags and putting bags into linen cages

Scene 1:
Character comes into view pushing a trolley, which has one bag of linen attached. The character positions this trolley very close to another trolley which is stacked high with linen bags, there are 2 bags stored at the base of this trolley and there are two bags stored at each level with a total of four/five levels. The character removes a bag from the trolley which had been wheeled into position, each bag weighs 20kg. The character lifts a 20kg bag and while turning and twisting places the 20kg bag onto the other trolley. This lifting activity requires the character to lift the 20kg bag into position above shoulder height on the other trolley due to the fact that there are a lot of bags stacked high on this trolley. The character rolls the stacked trolley out of the room

On Screen Text:
Need to carry out a risk assessment of this task:

  • Look at how the job is carried out
  • Collect information: load weight, etc
  • Identify risk factors with the job
  • Make changes to improve the job

On Screen Text:
Risk Factors/Problems:

Scene 2:
Still image of character taken from scene 1, attempting to lift the 20kg bag onto the trolley. Large Red “X” marks indicate the risk factors with the job.

  • Load is too heavy
  • Prevented from handling at safe height
  • Physical effort too strenuous
  • Bending and twisting of the trunk

On Screen Text:
The new system of work: Assess risk to reduce manual handling

Scene 3:
Character wheels in a trolley with two linen bags stored on it. Each bag weighs 10kg. The character distributes the laundry between both bags evenly. The character positions the trolley perpendicular to the other trolley to allow the line bags to be removed and lifted directly onto the other trolley without and need for twisting and turning when completing the lift. The linen bag is lifted onto the other trolley and positioned at waist height as this trolley has been changed to ensure that linen bags are not stacked too high.

On Screen Text:
Key Changes in the New System of Work:

  • Decant from Laundry bags to disperse weight evenly (10kg)
  • Tag bags on trolley
  • Unhook and slide onto floor
  • Lift bags onto horizontal laundry cage at a safe height

Manual Handling: Assess to avoid, reduce or reorganise.