Risk Factors Associated with the
Manual Handling of Coffins
Amy Jones
www.hsl.gov.uk
www.hsl.gov.uk
AnAn
Agency
of theof
Health
and Safety
Executive
Agency
the Health
and
Safety
Executive
Contents
Background
Data Gathering
Risk Factors
Summary of Risk Factors
Recommendations
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Background
•HSL approached by a Local Authority Inspector at
Rushmoor Borough Council regarding the issue of manual
handling risks to individuals who handle coffins
•Little guidance available
•Potential problem of recommendations being accepted
e.g. by members of the public
•Report to provide ergonomic* support
* “… the application of scientific information concerning
humans to the design of objects, systems and environments
for human use.”
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Data Gathering
•
Difficulties due to sensitivities surrounding funerals
•
Site visit to Crematorium in Aldershot – interviews,
observation of cremation
•
Site visits during the HSE Better Backs Campaign
•
Interviews with staff at Independent Funeral Directors
•
Observation of burial in Manchester
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Data Gathering
Example from the MAC tool
•Simulations using a 3D
computer modelling
programme
•Observational analysis using
video footage
•Comparison to HSE guidance
- Manual Handling Regs,
Manual Handling Assessment
Chart (MAC)
•Rapid Entire Body
Assessment tool (REBA)
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Data Gathering
•Scope of study limited to handling during funerals, coffin to
hearse and coffin to grave or cremator
•There may be additional risk factors not identified within the
scope of the study e.g. religious and cultural practices
•The risk factors covered may not necessarily be found at
other places around the country
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Posture
Lifting from hearse to shoulders
Lifting to shoulders =
medium risk using
the MAC (examine
tasks closely)
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Posture
Carrying the Coffin
•Slight twisting and sideways bending of trunk
•Neck flexion
•Load carried to side
•Extraneous factors, e.g environmental, communication
•REBA tool assesses this as a medium risk (necessary action is
needed)
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Posture
Lowering Coffin to Catafalque
24 inches
•At the start of the lift the bearers hands are above elbowshoulder height = medium risk using the MAC tool
•Back muscles work harder when lifting occurs with the
back flexed forwards in addition to supporting ones own
weight therefore increasing the compression forces in the
spine
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Posture
Coffin to Ground Level
•Hand distance from the lower back at the last stage of
descent is at a moderate distance as the individual has to
bend his trunk forward which is compromised due to the
presence of the grave hole.
•Lowering from shoulder height to ground level = high risk
score in the MAC
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Posture Summary
•Highest risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) e.g.
sprains and strains from lifting on/off shoulder, long carry
distances, lowering to floor level.
•Height of furniture influences posture e.g. low catafalque
increases risk of MSDs particularly to the lower back.
•Abilities of individuals need to be considered e.g. skill,
age, experience, strength, techniques, training
•Cumulative damage highly likely for regular exposure,
increasing the risk of acute injury to the lower back over a
period of time
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Load
•Funeral Directors do not usually know the precise weight of
the body (there is a trend of increasing body weight)
•Vast differences in weight according to coffin material and
weight of the deceased
•In this study (from statistics and research)
•35kg average coffin
•50kg top end coffin
•76kg average body weight
•107kg “heavier” body
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Load
•The weight of some coffins handled by a team of 4 will fall
within the “high risk” category of MAC. This may expose a
significant proportion of the working population to risk of
injury.
•Team of 6 handling a heavier coffin will reduce the risk but
increase the risk from poor co-ordination and control which
can influence the lifting posture.
•Quality of grip assessed as reasonable however the nature
of gloves have a very significant effect on grip quality
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Relationship between Load/Posture
•Coffins are handled above shoulder height and below knee
height
HSE Risk Filter Guidelines
•35.5kg per bearer
= Exceeds HSE risk
filter guidelines by at
least a factor of 3
•23.7kg per bearer
(dividing load
between 6) =
Exceeds HSE risk
filter guidelines by at
least a factor of 2
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Relationship between Load/carrying Posture
Combination of load/posture scenarios simulated (using 3d
computer modelling program JACK) to analyse lower back
compression forces
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Relationship between Load/carrying Posture
•Analysis reveals that the estimated compression forces
acting on the lower back are low in comparison to the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) back compression action limit of 3400 N
(representing a nominal risk to the majority of the working
population)
•The force travels down the body in a vertical line so there
is a much smaller moment about the low back than if the
load was held away, thus putting much less strain on the
lower back
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Relationship between Load/ Lifting Posture
•Posture of a bearer lowering heavier coffins at the gravesite
with straighter legs above the NIOSH back compression
action limit
•May place some individuals at increased risk of sustaining
a lower back injury
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Repetition
•Will vary considerably for example from one to six funerals
per day
•MAC classifies loads between 23-45 kg lifted once per day
as medium risk. This decreases to 18-39 kg for lifting once
every 30 minutes. Therefore the risk presented by the load
and frequency with four bearers lifting coffins at up to four
cremations a day = medium risk
•Does not take into account difficulties of lifting/carrying on
the shoulder therefore regarded as minimum estimate of the
risk
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Burials
•A carry distance of over 10 meters presents a high risk to
the bearers
•Regardless of weight there are a number of factors to
consider:
•Limited hearse access
•Narrow walkways
•Re-opening of graves
This may constrain the postures of the bearers exposing them
to an increased risk of slips, trips and falls and MSD injury
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Burials
•Ground conditions may be
sloping or uneven due to a natural
slope in the ground, or due to
settling of the earth in adjacent
graves
•Weather conditions are influential; the likelihood of slips,
trips and falls will be increased when the ground is wet and
slippery due to rain, ice or wind
•Due to working outdoors and often waiting out in the cold,
muscles can go cold and fatigued and therefore the risk of
injury is increased
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Chapel/Church
•Likelihood of steps to the entrance and inside the building
•Low door height (in old churches) requiring the bearers to
dip in order for the coffin to pass under the door frame
•Narrow aisles (in old churches) report of a problem with a
22-inch wide coffin with bearers either side struggling to
pass down a 36-inch aisle
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Cremation
A long carry
distance
may be
encountered
from the
doors of the
chapel to the
catafalque
Steps may
be present
up to the
catafalque
Coffins are usually rather sharp cornered and hard so local
contact pressure on the shoulder of the bearer is likely to be
high and consequently present a risk of injury in itself
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
System of Work
•Reality of Team Working:
Inexperienced bearer teams
Bent postures – risk of MSDs is increased
Lack of communication
Lack of technique
•Inadequate training for both relatives and bearers
•Risk assessments
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Summary of Risk Factors
WWeight of load: The weights of some coffins handled by a team of
4, fall within the “high-risk” category in accordance to MAC
LLow back compression forces: Higher than the NIOSH back
compression action limit when lowering heavier coffins with straighter
legs at the gravesite
.
CConstrained posture: Combined with the load consequently means
the HSE risk filter guidelines are exceeded by at least a factor of three
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Summary of Risk Factors
•Environmental factors: long carry distances; slip and trip
hazards; narrow access; low heights of furniture
•Training: Inadequate for both relatives and bearers
•Team handling: Lack of technique and communication for
inexperienced bearer teams
“These risk factors may not necessarily be present in
other funeral homes, crematoriums, and burials. There
may be additional risk factors that were not identified
but are present within the industry”
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Recommendations
•
•
Provide bearers with a coffin’s weight before manual
handling.
• Trolleys with integrated scales
• Manufacturers to provide coffin weights
Consider the use of manual handling aids where
possible
• Trolley for long carry distances (trial led on a small
scale to determine if they are suitable)
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive
Recommendations
•
A fixed bearing team will help to ensure a smooth, well
coordinated lift and carry
•
Adequate handles to serve as an additional handling
aid. The use of gloves may also help with a better grip
of the coffin
•
Using a checklist prior to each funeral in order to plan
for high-risk environments, loads, etc
•
Adequate training for both relatives and bearers (with
actual coffins in various environments)
•
Ensure the design of new buildings are fit for purpose
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Thank you
An Agency of the Health and Safety Executive