Employers have a moral and legal responsibility to keep workers safe. If workers are injured on the job, insurance steps in and that can get expensive. To save money and save workers’ health, companies should take action to prevent injuries in the first place. 

Let’s explore: 

• What Are the USA Manual Handling Weight Limits & Regulations? 
• How are the OSHA Regulations Enforced? 
• Make an Investment to Protect Your Business & Workers 

 

What Are the USA Manual Handling Weight Limits & Regulations? 

For the USA, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, also known as the OSH Act of 1970, supports safe working conditions for employees. The main group that enforces thsi act is the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).  

The General Duty Clause (of the OSH Act of 1970) says employers should not have known hazards that can hurt or kill workers. It also says employees have the responsibility to follow safety and health standards.  

 When it comes to weight limits, OSHA doesn’t not provide a specific number as recommendation. But it recognizes that lifting items can be a hazard. 

To reduce the hazard of lifting, it’s valuable to learn about the 3 common manual handling injuries. That can help you understand the risk factors that often cause them and take action to minimize those risks. 

NIOSH and Weight Recommendations 

The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) has an equation to help people determine how much they can safely lift. The NLE Calc app can help people calculate it, which you can learn more on NIOSH ergonomics page. 

People input data for key lifting variables: 

• Weight of the load 
• Horizontal location (hands away from ankles) 
• Vertical location (hands above the floor) 
• Vertical travel distance (hands between the starting point and end point of the lift) 
• Asymmetry angle (how far object is from the center of the body) 
• Frequency of task 
• Duration of tasks and rest during 8 hour shift 
• Coupling (how people grip the item)

 

How are OSHA Regulations Enforced? 

Regulations are enforced a variety of ways like inspections and record keeping, which is explained in OSH Act of 1970, Section 8. 

An official from the Secretary of Labor is allowed to visit a facility and inspect working conditions, equipment, and practices. They should show their credentials and come at a reasonable time, like during working hours. 

Also, employers are expected to maintain records about health and safety at their workplace. This means documenting injuries, illness, deaths, and exposure to any hazards/dangerous substances that happen.  

After an OSHA Inspection 

But what happens if there is a safety concern or problem? OSH Act of 1970, Section 10 how rules are enforced. If there is a violation found from an inspection, an employer will recieve a citation. The citation will include what the violation was, what standard was broken, and give a deadline when the issue needs to be fixed. Sometimes, a fine comes with the citation.  

Employers need to fix the violation and inform workers about the problem. The citation should be posted around the place where the violation happened. 

If an employer disagrees, they can contest the citation, the penalty, or the deadline they were given to fix the issue. 

Support from OSHA 

OSHA provides support, so employers understand how to keep their workers safe.  

Support resources from OSHA: 

• Call local OSHA office with questions 
• Submit question through OSHA’s website 
• Small/medium businesses can use On-Site Consulation Program 
• Work with Compliance Assistance Specialists 
• Use OSHA forms for recordkeeping
• More information can be found here.

A helpful way to protect your employees from hazards is by offering training. OSHA Education Center provides many safety trainings. You can use the trainings most relevant to your business.

 

Protect Your Business & Workers 

It’s difficult to remove the hazards of manual lifting. So, it is beneficial to explore options that remove manual lifting. 

How Can a Lift Assist Help? 

Making an investment in lifting solutions like vacuum lifters can remove the weight from workers and improve safety. 

• Better lifting ergonomics: When an item needs to be lifted, a worker can operate a vacuum lifter instead of bending over or reaching up. This improves ergonomics and keeps workers safe. 
• Carry heavy, diverse loads: Different solutions have different weight capacities. TAWI’s vacuum lifters have a model that can carry loads up to 600 lbs. Also, a wide range of suction feet help lift different types of items like bags, boxes, and more. Learn more about applications where lifters can help. 
• Staff flexibility: It can be hard to find a worker who can carry heavy items all day and even harder to retain them. But a lifter can help workers, even people who aren’t physically strong, lift items. 
• Mobile options: Sometimes, items need to be moved to different places in a facility. Mobile vacuum lifters gives workers the flexibility to lift items wherever they need to in a facility.

Value of Safe, Sustainable Lifting Practices 

It’s important to remember that injuries can lead to signficant damage to an employee and a company’s reputation. You should protect your workers and company with safe lifting practices and an environment that is built to help workers be successul and safe. 

If you’re interested in exploring lifting solutions that can remove the need for manual handling, contact us. We’ll be happy to partner with you to improve your operations.