As an employer, you must protect your workers from the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling in the workplace. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations require employers to avoid, assess and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling.
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.
You can avoid hazardous manual handling operations by:
redesigning the task to avoid moving the load
automating or mechanising the process
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.
Training can be important in raising awareness and reducing risk, but it won't ensure safe manual handling on its own. You should first design the manual handling operations to be as safe as reasonably practicable. You should also monitor and review procedures to make sure workers understand and apply them.
Are you, or your workers, protected from the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling in the workplace? Why not attend a half day Manual Handling Course to reduce the risk of injury, and raise awareness.
For more information feel free to get in contact:
01782 438813
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