Manual Handling Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 ...

Health and Safety
Executive
Guidance
123 When team handling is being carried out to handle a person, the person being
handled should be included in the communication where possible. A clear protocol
should be agreed between the team about timing for the lift. This is particularly
necessary when the team contains employees from different agencies, for example,
fire service and ambulance staff, who may have their own preferred instructions.
Team members should preferably be of similar build and physical capability. Where
the weight of the load is unevenly distributed, the strongest members of the team
should take the heavier end.
The load
Size and weight
Is the load heavy?
124 The weight of a load is an important factor in assessing the risk from manual
handling and for many years legislation and guidance on manual handling has
concentrated on this. However, it is now well established that the weight of the
load is only one – and sometimes not the main – consideration affecting the risk of
injury. Other features of the load must also be considered, such as its:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
resistance to movement;
size;
shape; or
rigidity.
125 The circumstances in which the load is handled must also be taken into
account, for example:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
postural requirements;
frequency and duration of handling;
workplace design; and
aspects of work organisation such as incentive schemes and piecework.
126 Also, traditional guidance, based on so-called ‘acceptable’ weights, has often
considered only symmetrical, two-handed lifts, ie lifts that take place in front of and
close to the body. In reality such lifting tasks are comparatively rare, since most will
involve sideways movement, twisting of the trunk or some other asymmetry. For
these reasons an approach to manual handling which concentrates only on the
weight of the load is likely to be misleading, either failing adequately to deal with the
risk of injury or imposing excessively cautious constraints.
127 The numerical guidelines and text in Appendix 3 consider the weight of the
load in relation to other important factors, such as frequency of lift, twisting etc.
4(1)(b)(i) and (ii)
128 Where a risk of injury from a heavy load is identified, after taking into account
the Appendix 3 guidelines and the points in paragraphs 124 and 125, consider
reducing its weight. For example, materials like liquids and powders may be
packaged in smaller containers. Where loads are bought in it may be possible
to specify lower package weights. However, the breaking down of loads will not
always be the safest course of action as this will increase the handling frequency.
The effort associated with moving the handler’s own body weight becomes more
significant as the rate of handling rises. This can result in increased fatigue and
excessive stresses on particular parts of the body, for example, the shoulders.
Another option is to make the load so big that it cannot be handled manually.
Manual handling Page 33 of 90