NEBOSH CC Manual Handling & Musculoskeletal Disorders 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'Work-Related Upper Limb Disorder' (WRULD)?
- An MSD affecting the arms, wrists, hands or neck caused or aggravated by work activities (Correct answer)
- A condition affecting only the shoulder joint
- Any injury caused by a single lifting incident
- A disease caused by chemical exposure at work
Correct answer: An MSD affecting the arms, wrists, hands or neck caused or aggravated by work activities
Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULDs) are musculoskeletal conditions affecting the arms, wrists, hands and neck that are caused or made worse by work activities. Repetitive movements, awkward postures and sustained force are common causes.
Question 2: What is the primary mechanical assistance that should be considered before carrying out manual handling of heavy loads?
- Trolleys, sack trucks, pallet trucks or forklifts (Correct answer)
- Only team lifting
- Only PPE such as gloves
- Back braces and support belts
Correct answer: Trolleys, sack trucks, pallet trucks or forklifts
Mechanical aids such as trolleys, sack trucks, pallet trucks, conveyor belts and forklifts should be considered first to eliminate or reduce the need for manual handling. These are preferred over relying on individual physical effort.
Question 3: What effect does a hot working environment have on manual handling risk?
- It increases fatigue, reduces strength and impairs concentration, increasing injury risk (Correct answer)
- It reduces the weight of loads
- It improves muscle performance and reduces injury risk
- It has no significant effect on manual handling risk
Correct answer: It increases fatigue, reduces strength and impairs concentration, increasing injury risk
Hot working environments cause dehydration, fatigue and reduced muscle performance. Workers tire more quickly, their grip strength and concentration decrease, and the risk of manual handling injury increases significantly.
Question 4: What is 'team lifting' and when is it appropriate?
- Two or more people sharing the load when it is too heavy or awkward for one person (Correct answer)
- One person carrying a load while another person guides them
- A technique where one person lifts a load in stages
- Any lifting operation involving more than one person regardless of load weight
Correct answer: Two or more people sharing the load when it is too heavy or awkward for one person
Team lifting involves two or more workers working together to carry a load that is too heavy or awkward for a single person to handle safely. It requires coordination, communication and that the team is of similar height where possible.
Question 5: What is the recommended posture for lifting a load from the floor?
- Bend the knees, keep the back straight, keep the load close to the body and lift smoothly (Correct answer)
- Bend at the waist with legs straight
- Twist the body to place the load
- Lift quickly to minimise the duration of stress on the back
Correct answer: Bend the knees, keep the back straight, keep the load close to the body and lift smoothly
Safe lifting technique involves bending the knees rather than the back, keeping the spine in a neutral position, holding the load as close to the body as possible and lifting smoothly without twisting. This reduces stress on the lumbar spine.
Question 6: What is 'repetitive strain injury' (RSI) and what activities on a construction site commonly cause it?
- Injury to tendons and muscles from repeated movements; common causes include drilling, hammering and repetitive lifting (Correct answer)
- An injury from a single forceful event
- A condition caused only by computer use
- An injury caused only by heavy lifting
Correct answer: Injury to tendons and muscles from repeated movements; common causes include drilling, hammering and repetitive lifting
RSI (repetitive strain injury) results from repeated, forceful or awkward movements that damage tendons, muscles and nerves. On construction sites, drilling, hammering, screw driving and repetitive lifting are common causes.
NEBOSH CC Manual Handling & Musculoskeletal Disorders 2
What is 'Work-Related Upper Limb Disorder' (WRULD)?