Manual Handling

Manual Handling

Manual handling (lifting, carrying and handling of loads) is one of the most common causes of injury at work resulting, typically, in muscular strains or physical injury. The Health and Safety (Manual Handling Operations) Regulations 1992 require every manual handling task to be managed in a way that minimises the risk to those involved.  The management process required is, in essence, a risk assessment. The starting point is to consider whether the manual handling task is necessary or if the work might be organised differently, or perhaps mechanised.  Major alteration and remedial actions may not be immediately possible, but may be identified as a future goal.

Hierarchy of control measures

The MHO Regulations set a hierarchy of measures under which the employer must:

• Avoid hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable
• Assess the risk of any hazardous manual handling operation, which cannot be avoided
• Reduce the risk of injury, so far as is reasonably practicable

Avoiding the Hazard

There may be a number of options for avoiding the need for manual handling.  Examples include:

• Redesigning a process to avoid moving a load, or by automation or mechanisation.

Assessing the Risk

• The regulations specify four factors that should be considered in any manual handling risk assessment:

The Task

The Load

The Working Environment

Individual Capability

The process steps for completing manual handling assessments may be described by way of a flow chart, provided Manual Handling flow chart and further guidance.. Although some form of assessment, or judgement, of the risk should be made for every manual handling operation, the wide scope of the Regulations means that a detailed written assessment of every manual handling operation would be impractical, and would result in effort being diverted away from tasks where there may be a significant risk of injury.  The guidelines published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggest that the assessment need not be recorded in writing if:

1. It could very easily be repeated and explained at any time because it is simple and obvious.

2. The manual handling operations are quite straightforward, of low risk, are going to last only a very short time, and the time taken to record them would be disproportionate.

It must be noted that no manual handling task is risk free. Even operations which are identified as low risk should be avoided or made less demanding where this can reasonably be achieved.

Reducing the Risk

In attempting to reduce the risk it will usually be convenient to continue with the same structured approach used during the assessment, considering in turn the task, the load, the working environment and individual capability. The emphasis given to each of these factors may depend upon the nature and circumstances of the manual handling operation. Better job or workplace design may not eliminate handling injuries, but it can greatly reduce them and do so cost effectively. Consideration also needs to be given to the provision of mechanical assistance where this is reasonably practicable. Keep in consideration that mechanical handling aid will also introduce different risks. Examples of this might include such factors as driver training and traffic management, where forklift trucks are to be used; arrangements for routine examination and testing of lifting equipment; training of staff where cranes or other lifting machines are in use.

Roles and Responsibilities

Further information

• Manual Handling Factsheet
• Manual Handling Checklist
• Manual Handling Flow Chart and Further Guidance
• List and Listing Operations

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