Originally posted on October 11, 2014 @ 3:06 PM

The Manual Handling Secret

One of the great challenges of safety is effective manual handling. One in three of all injuries in the Australian workplace are due to manual handling issues. For years we have been developing programs, codes of practice and regulations to help minimize this problem – but little did I realize we have been missing the secret. Whilst some thought compliance was made effective with a big stick (perhaps a caber), others think that fines and punishment work to force compliance now we know the secret. Just recently I discovered the secret to manual handling – the kilt. Little did I know that when you put on the tartan you become a manual handling champion.

We used to think lifting was in the bending of the knees, keeping the back straight, positioning of the feet, protection of the hands and effective grip but no, the secret is in the kilt. Where is the evidence you say, where is that peer-reviewed rigorous study, where is that lean model of WHS. The story is in the video.

Celtic Festival Kambah ACT 11 October 2014

How strange that safety crusades at work for everything right and for entertainment we watch someone else do everything we banned at work. The pics show the competition, lifting 100, 120, 135, 150 and 165 kgs in 21 seconds and with a sandstone ball. Difficult grip, unusual shape and demanding weight, well done Scots.