Manual Handling Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 ...

Health and Safety
Executive
(e)
educate, inform and consult your workforce:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
have you consulted safety representatives/other workers and involved
them in the risk assessment process?
have you educated and informed your workforce to enable them to play
an active part in controlling risk?
what steps have you taken to ensure that training reinforces safe working
practices and control measures?
(f)
manage any case of manual handling injury:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
have you implemented and supported a system for early reporting of
manual handling injuries and investigating which work activities could be
linked with the symptoms?
do you actively look for symptoms of manual handling injury?
have you arranged for occupational health provision?
do you have systems in place for employees returning to work
after having a manual handling injury, including a review of the risk
assessment in light of their individual needs?
(g)
carry out regular checks on programme effectiveness:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
do you have systems in place to monitor and review your controls for
reducing the risks from manual handling?
do you have systems in place to monitor and review your manual
handling management programme?
are you aware of new developments/information?
do you aim for continuous improvement?
3 Adequate control of risk factors will go a long way to prevent the occurrence
of ill health caused by manual handling. Due to individual differences it is not
possible to ensure that every possible manual handling injury will always be
prevented. It is therefore important that employers should have a system in place
to detect and manage any cases of work-related manual handling injury. Such
systems should:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
encourage the early reporting of any symptoms. An individual’s willingness
to do this varies, so it is important to establish a supportive climate in the
workplace that emphasises the benefits of early detection of possible harm;
provide appropriate advice for users who report symptoms;
provide for referral to health professionals to obtain appropriate diagnosis,
treatment, or advice; and
help employees who report symptoms to continue working, or to return to
work after periods of absence or treatment. Rehabilitation must be supported
by graduated return to work schemes.
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