Manual Handling Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 ...

Health and Safety
Executive
8 You will need to carry out a more detailed assessment (see Appendix 4) if:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
using the filter shows the activity exceeds the guideline figures;
the activities do not come within the guidelines, eg if lifting and lowering
unavoidably takes place beyond the box zones in Figure 23;
there are other considerations to take into account;
the assumptions made in the filter are not applicable, for example when
carrying the load it is not held against the body;
for each task the assessment cannot be done quickly.
9 Paragraphs 28-29 and Table 3 provide an aide memoire for recording the
findings from using the filter and reaching a judgement whether or not a full
assessment is required.
Lifting and lowering
Women
Men
10 kg
5 kg
Shoulder height
Elbow height
Knuckle height
3 kg
7 kg
10 kg
7 kg
13 kg
16 kg
20 kg
25 kg
10 kg
15 kg
Shoulder height
Elbow height
Knuckle height
7 kg
13 kg
20 kg
10 kg
Mid lower leg height
3 kg
7 kg
10 kg
5 kg
Mid lower leg height
Figure 23 Lifting and lowering
10 Each box in the diagram contains a guideline weight for lifting and lowering in
that zone. Using the diagram enables the assessor to take into account the vertical
and horizontal position of the hands as they move the load, the height of the
individual handler and the reach of the individual handler. As can be seen from the
diagram, the guideline weights are reduced if handling is done with arms extended,
or at high or low levels, as that is where injuries are most likely.
11 Observe the work activity being assessed and compare it to the diagram. First
decide which box or boxes the lifter’s hands pass through when moving the load.
Then assess the maximum weight being handled. If it is less than the figure given in
the box, the operation is within the guidelines.
12 If the lifter’s hands enter more than one box during the operation, then the
smallest weight figure applies. An intermediate weight can be chosen if the hands
are close to a boundary between boxes.
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