Manual handling risk assessment

The Regulations specify four main factors which must be taken into account during the assessment. These are the task, the load, the working environment and the capability of the individual who Is expected to do the lifting. 

The task should be analysed in detail so that all aspects of manual handling are covered including the use of mechanical assistance. The number of people involved and the cost of the task should also be considered. Some or all of the following questions are relevant to most manual handling tasks  

Finally, the capability of the individual to lift or carry the load must be assessed. The following questions will need to be asked  

The assessment must be reviewed if there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change to the manual handling operations to which it relates. 

The working environment in which the manual handling operation is to take place, must be considered during the assessment. The following areas will need 

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Assessment of manual handling risks includes the following issues ... 

Getting to gups with manual handling pharmaceutical a abort guide for employers Health surveillance in the pharmaceutical industry (COSHHj Emergency action for burns Eive steps to risk assessment... 

For this refer to the regulations on manual handling in the piece of OHS legislation under which you work. The key requirements are policy, consultation, design and risk identification, assessment and control. 

The three-stage approach of risk identification, risk assessment and risk control should be used. The control measures agreed on are then the requirements for particular manual handling tasks. 

In other words, if the risk of injury is very small compared to the cost, time and effort required to reduce the risk, then no action is necessary. It is important to note that money, time and trouble must grossly outweigh not balance the risk. This duty requires judgement on the part of the employer (or his adviser) and clearly needs a risk assessment to be undertaken with conclusions noted. Continual monitoring is also required to ensure that risks do not increase. There are numerous examples of this level of duty, including the Manual Handling Operations Regulations and The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. 

Manual handling is kept to a minimum. Where there is a risk of injury manual handling assessments are carried out. 

The method statement should take into account the conclusions of risk assessments made under the Management, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations. It can also help other contractors working on a site to understand the effects work will have on them. It can help the principal contractor to draw up the construction phase safety plan. 

Other risk assessments, such as COSHH, personal protective equipment and manual handling, should be appended to the method statement. 

HSE has developed a Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC) to help with the assessment of common risks associated with lifting, carrying and handling. The MAC is available on the HSE website. 

Has the risk of manual handling injuries been assessed ... 

In the Reguladons, the sequencing of the subsections may be logical from a legal viewpoint, but from a practical manager s point of view they need to be rearranged. They require the employer to assess the risks from manual handling and to develop methods of work that reduce these risks to a minimum. Employees are required to follow the work method. 

State the % of manual handling tasks with formal written risk assessments 50 points for 100% compliance and pro rata ... 

In the use of chemicals it may be necessary to handle them manually, often in sacks weighing 25 kg or more. Where this occurs, the risks from the manual handling should be included in the risk assessment. This is also a requirement of ttie Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. This assessment should be carried out by a person trained in handling techniques who should consider ... 

Foreseeable hazards associated with the operation (cross-reference to the risk assessments, COSHH assessments, manual handling assessments, etc.)... 

Making risk assessments for all work activities — including manual handling, issue of personal protective equipment, users of display screen equipment and other work equipment, and for COSHH substances... 

The above comments have been directed at general activity risk assessments. It is easy to forget that more specific assessments could be required in order to comply with (for example) the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, the Display Screen Equipment Regulations (which apply to display screens in use in site offices) and the assessment requirements within the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations. These are addressed in more detail later in this chapter. 

There is no prescribed format for risk assessments. Health and Safety Executive guidance is limited to Five Steps to Risk Assessment , which is considered to be insufficiently detailed for construction industry needs, and specimen examples in the guidance material associated with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations and the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (see below). 

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