Relevant Statutes:
- Manual Handling Operation Regulations 1992
Manual handling causes large numbers of injuries mainly to the back.The most common cause being the handling of drums and cylinders. Manual handling is defined as lowering, pushing, pulling, moving or lifting loads whether by hand or other bodily force.
Duties
All employers have to;
- avoid, so far as is reasonably practicable, the need for employees to undertake manual handling operations which involve a risk of their being injured.
- make a suitable and sufficient assessment of any hazardous handling operations that cannot be avoided
- reduce the risk of injury from these operations so far as is reasonably practicable.
Assessment
When making an assessment the following points should be taken into account-
Operations should avoid:
- holding or manipulating loads at a distance form the trunk unsatisfactory bodily movements or posture excessive movement of load excessive pushing or pulling of loads
- risk of sudden movement of loads
- frequent or prolonged physical effort
- insufficient rest or recovery periods
- a rate of work imposed by a process
Limitations introduced by PPE should be taken into account.
The loads should not be;
- heavy, bulky or unwieldy, difficult to grasp
- unstable, or with contents likely to shift
- sharp, or potentially damaging
The working environment should avoid;
- space constraints preventing good posture
- uneven, slippery or unstable floors
- variations in level of floors or work surfaces
- extremes of temperature or humidity
- conditions causing ventilation problems or gusts of wind poor lighting conditions
Tasks:
- should not require unusual strength, height etc.
- should not create a hazard to those who may have health problems
- may require special information or training
Training
It should not be assumed that personnel are competent in handling loads and training must be given if required
Co-operation
Employees are required to co-operate and use any system of work or equipment provided.