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Posted By Magpie
Can anyone give me some advice/suggestions how to deliver practical manual handling training for gravediggers. Following a recent review of our Ground Maintenance risk assessments one of our TU Safety Reps requested further practical manual handling training specifically for grave diggers as they are frequently encountering heavier coffins/caskets (and bodies) whilst assisting the undertakers in carrying them to the grave side. It is not always possible to get the vehicle as close as possible to the burial lair to reduce the manual handling.
Where possible we try to include an element of job specific practical manual handling during the training so that it is not all theory based. e.g. unloading plant & equipment from vehicles, moving containers of bedding plants,loading vehicle with waste vegetation/tree cuttings. This is the training that the gravediggers have received along with other Ground Maintenance employees. However, I don't think it would be possible to get a coffin (with or without a body) to deliver job specific training?
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated
Thanks
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Posted By lewes
will email you something direct
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Posted By Ron Hunter
You seem to be defaulting rather swiftly to a manual solution - what about other mechanical handling solutions - e.g. side-loading powered FLT?
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Posted By Andrew Carr
Ron, I think there might be a sensitivity issue there! :)
But as a strict SHEF issue, I agree. An idea might be a trolley jack of some kind.
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Posted By Magpie
Hi Ron
We do on occasion get prior notice from undertakers for particularly large or heavy coffins and these are sometimes delivered on a pick up instead of the hearse and placed at the grave side prior to family attending.
The reason for choosing the manual handling option is where practicable to minimise the distress to the bereaving family.
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Posted By Ron Hunter
I understand the issues folks, but maybe we need to take heed of what our weighty American cousins have been doing for a long time - the whole process is mechanised.
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Posted By Renny Thomson
I agree with Ron. I know that our LA has used lorry mounted HIAB to lower the coffin before/after the relatives are present. With an increasing bariatric population we will have to revise what we accept as handling solutions. Neither legislation nor society should accept the risk of crippling workers.
For other tasks mechanical equipment such as mini excavators are used along with mechanised wheel barrows for transporting spoil/earth.
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