Manual Handling Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 ...

Health and Safety
Executive
Guidance
4(1)(b)(iii)
Regulation
175 The Regulations impose duties on employers whose employees carry out
manual handling. However, those who originate loads that are likely to undergo
manual handling may also have relevant duties, for example under sections 3 or
6 of the HSW Act, for the health and safety of other people at work. They should
make loads as easy to grasp and handle as possible, and mark loads clearly
with their weight and, where appropriate, an indication of their heaviest side (see
paragraphs 149-152).
(2) Any assessment such as is referred to in paragraph (1)(b)(i) of this
regulation shall be reviewed by the employer who made it if –
(a)
(b)
there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or
there has been a significant change in the manual handling operations to
which it relates;
4(2)
Guidance
4(2)
Regulation
and where as a result of any such review changes to an assessment are required,
the relevant employer shall make them.
Reviewing the assessment
176 The assessment should be kept up to date. It should be reviewed if new
information comes to light or if there has been a change in the manual handling
operations. The assessment should also be reviewed if a reportable injury occurs
or when individual employees suffer an illness, injury or the onset of disability which
may make them more vulnerable to risk.
(3) In determining for the purposes of this regulation whether manual
handling operations at work involve a risk of injury and in determining the
appropriate steps to reduce that risk regard shall be had in particular to:
4(3)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
the physical suitability of the employee to carry out the operations;
the clothing, footwear or other personal effects he is wearing;
his knowledge and training;
the results of any relevant risk assessment carried out pursuant
to regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999;
whether the employee is within a group of employees identified by that
assessment as being especially at risk; and
the results of any health surveillance provided pursuant to regulation 6 of
the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Guidance
Individual capability
Physical suitability of the employee
Does the task require unusual strength, height etc?
177 The ability to carry out manual handling safely varies between individuals.
These variations, however, are less important than the nature of the handling
operations in causing manual handling injuries. Assessments which concentrate
on individual capability at the expense of task or workplace design are likely to be
misleading. (Employers should also be aware of their duties under the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995, 17 particularly section 6.)
4(3)(a)
178 In general the lifting strength of women is less than that of men. But for both
men and women the range of individual strength and ability is large, and there is
considerable overlap – some women can safely handle greater loads than some
men.
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