Manual Handling
Manual Handling
Legislation
Manual handling is governed by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 2002, which is defined as:
“The transporting or supporting of a load, including the lifting, lowering, putting down, pushing, carrying or moving, by hand or by bodily force.”
According to the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 Section 4 (1), employers are required to:
- Avoid hazardous manual handling, as far as is reasonably practicable;
- Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that cannot be avoided;
- Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, as far as is reasonably practicable.
More than a third of all over-three-day injuries reported each year to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities are caused by manual handling.
Business Advantages
A thorough understanding of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations and the application of ergonomic principles to reduce the risk of manual handling injury can help to:
- Ensure legal compliance
- Reduce sickness and absenteeism
- Lower healthcare costs, insurance premiums, and compensation claims
- Improve workforce productivity
Manual Handling
Manual handling is a task that everyone encounters daily, whether in an office, factory, warehouse, or retail environment. Correct lifting techniques are essential to prevent injuries. Various items come in different shapes, sizes, and weights, including liquids and solids, which can be challenging to balance and handle. Movements such as twisting, bending, stretching, and awkward postures can cause injuries at any time.
Under health and safety legislation, it is crucial to identify where manual handling could lead to significant injury risks and take common-sense measures to reduce these risks. Avoidance of manual handling is the best option, typically followed by the use of machinery. However, physical handling by people will always be required for some tasks, making manual handling training essential to ensure safety.
The likelihood of manual handling injuries cannot be entirely removed, hence training in correct manual handling techniques—using legs, arms, and back—is crucial. Proper use of any equipment to limit injury likelihood also requires training before use.
Our training courses cater to a wide range of staff, from those with clear work-related handling tasks to sales and office staff who may have less apparent manual handling involvement. All staff are vulnerable to manual handling injuries, whether at work or at home, and can benefit from learning good techniques through our training sessions, which are available in 2-4 hour formats or full-day sessions for higher-risk groups.