As an employer, you must protect your workers from the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling in the workplace. Manual handling means transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. It includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving loads. A load can be an object, person or animal.
The law sets out how employers must deal with risks from manual handling:
avoid hazardous manual handling, so far as reasonably practicable
assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided
reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling to as low as reasonably practicable
Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided.
You should consider the task, the load, the working environment and individual capability, for example:
the postures adopted
how far the load is lifted, lowered or carried
the frequency of the task
the weight of the load
the nature of the load (for example hot, sharp or slippery)
cramped work areas
poor floor surfaces
poor lighting, extremes of temperature
workers' strength, fitness and underlying medical conditions (for example a history of back problems)
Measures to control risk will vary depending on the task. Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling operations you can't avoid. Where possible, provide mechanical help, for example a sack trolley or hoist. Where this is not reasonably practicable, explore changes to the task, the load and the working environment.
Whilst you should first design the manual handling operations to be as safe as reasonably practicable, training can be important in raising awareness and reducing risk!
Why not book a place today on our half-day Manual Handling Course, for only £65 + VAT per person. For more information:
01782 438813
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