Manual Handling Course (EU): Reporting pain early and staying well

1. Question 1 of 16

   Which of these can be an early warning sign of a musculoskeletal problem?

   • ANeeding glasses to read small labels
   • BFeeling cold when outdoors in winter
   • CFeeling hungry just before lunchtime
   • DDiscomfort or tiredness after handling
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Discomfort or tiredness after handling

   OSHwiki notes that early warnings such as fatigue or discomfort give a chance to act before a problem grows.

2. Question 2 of 16

   Why is it important to report back discomfort early?

   • AIt lowers the risk of long-term work loss
   • BReports are only needed if you want time off
   • CReporting only matters after a fracture
   • DPain always goes away if nothing changes
   Show answer

   Answer: A. It lowers the risk of long-term work loss

   OSHwiki says the sooner a musculoskeletal problem is managed, the less likely it is to lead to long-term work loss.

3. Question 3 of 16

   Who should you tell about pain linked to your handling work?

   • ANobody at all until it gets much worse
   • BYour supervisor, as your procedure says
   • COnly your colleagues on social media
   • DOnly a friend who works somewhere else
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Your supervisor, as your procedure says

   Follow your employer's reporting procedure so the task can be checked and you can get help early.

4. Question 4 of 16

   What is most useful to include when you report back discomfort?

   • AYour opinion of the people you work with
   • BThe task, when it started, where it hurts
   • COnly your name and your staff number
   • DOnly the date of your next holiday
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The task, when it started, where it hurts

   Details about the task, timing and symptoms help the employer find the cause and review the risk assessment.

5. Question 5 of 16

   Several workers report sore backs after the same task. What does this most likely mean?

   • AThe task and its controls need review
   • BThe equipment must be working perfectly
   • CThe workers on that task are simply weak
   • DNothing needs to change on the task
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The task and its controls need review

   Risk assessment includes monitoring and reviewing measures. Reports of pain show that the controls may not be working.

6. Question 6 of 16

   What does the Framework Directive say about health surveillance?

   • AWorkers must pay for it themselves each year
   • BIt should suit the risks, under national rules
   • CIt is only for managers and supervisors
   • DEvery worker must have a weekly back scan
   Show answer

   Answer: B. It should suit the risks, under national rules

   Article 14 says health surveillance should match the risks, under national systems, and each worker can have it at regular intervals if they wish.

7. Question 7 of 16

   Which of these is an example of a workplace adjustment for someone with a back problem?

   • AMaking their shifts longer each week
   • BGiving them the heaviest jobs on site
   • CRemoving all of their rest breaks
   • DChanging their tasks or equipment
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Changing their tasks or equipment

   OSHwiki lists changes to equipment, furniture, schedules, tasks and working conditions as adjustments.

8. Question 8 of 16

   Which of these is part of early intervention for MSDs, according to OSHwiki?

   • ASeveral weeks of complete bed rest
   • BWaiting several months before seeing anyone
   • CStopping all physical activity for good
   • DQuick referral and early movement
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Quick referral and early movement

   Early intervention includes rapid referral and diagnosis, patient education, early mobilisation, physical activity and return-to-work support.

9. Question 9 of 16

   In the Madrid early-intervention study described on OSHwiki, what happened to days off work?

   • AThey rose by 39%
   • BThey fell by 39%
   • CThey did not change
   • DThey fell by 3%
   Show answer

   Answer: B. They fell by 39%

   The programme reduced days off work by 39% and permanent work disability by 50%.

10. Question 10 of 16

    In the 2015 EU working conditions survey cited by OSHwiki, about what share of workers reported back pain?

    • A43%
    • B13%
    • C93%
    • D4%
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 43%

    43% of workers reported back pain, 42% neck and upper limb pain and 29% lower limb pain.

11. Question 11 of 16

    According to EU-OSHA's checklist, what do workers returning after back problems need?

    • ANothing special compared with other staff
    • BA move to a different job in every case
    • CGoing straight back to the heaviest tasks
    • DFull recovery and time to rebuild skills
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Full recovery and time to rebuild skills

    The checklist says to give extra attention to workers with back problems, who need full recovery and time to rebuild skills.

12. Question 12 of 16

    Why might a pregnant worker whose job involves lifting choose to tell her employer about the pregnancy?

    • ASo that her training can be cancelled
    • BSo that she can be given heavier loads
    • CSo her handling risks can be considered
    • DSo that the risk assessment can be stopped
    Show answer

    Answer: C. So her handling risks can be considered

    Under Directive 92/85/EEC, the employer must assess risks such as handling heavy loads for workers who have informed it of their pregnancy.

13. Question 13 of 16

    A colleague says, "No one showed me how to use the hoist, so I just lift by hand." What should happen?

    • AIgnore it, because training is optional
    • BLearn the hoist alone by trial and error
    • CKeep lifting by hand, as it is quicker
    • DReport the gap so training is given
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Report the gap so training is given

    Lack of knowledge or training is an individual risk factor in Annex II, and employers must train workers in correct handling.

14. Question 14 of 16

    What is the aim of a return-to-work plan after an MSD?

    • ATo help the worker stay in their job
    • BTo move the worker to unpaid leave
    • CTo check whether the worker can be replaced
    • DTo make sure the worker is never ill again
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To help the worker stay in their job

    OSHwiki says return to work should be a coordinated effort aimed at keeping the job and preventing early exit from work.

15. Question 15 of 16

    Under the Framework Directive, workers must inform the employer when they notice what?

    • AAny change to the canteen lunch menu
    • BGaps in the protection arrangements
    • CEvery small change in the weather outside
    • DTheir colleagues' private personal problems
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Gaps in the protection arrangements

    Article 13 says workers must immediately inform the employer of serious and immediate danger and of shortcomings in the protection arrangements.

16. Question 16 of 16

    Why should workers be involved in finding solutions to handling problems?

    • AThey know the hazards of their own work well
    • BSo that the employer can skip the risk assessment
    • CSo that no handling training is needed any more
    • DThey must do the legal assessment instead of the employer
    Show answer

    Answer: A. They know the hazards of their own work well

    OSHwiki says workers are the experts in identifying hazards in their own workplace, and the Framework Directive requires employers to consult workers on safety and health.

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