Manual Handling Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 ...

Health and Safety
Executive
29 Identify if each activity being performed comes within the guidelines and if
there are other considerations to take into account (it may be helpful to make a
note of these). Then make a final judgement of whether the task needs a full risk
assessment. Remember you should be able to do this quickly - if not then a full risk
assessment is required (see Appendix 4).
Table 3 Application of guidelines
Task:………………….………………….………………….
Activity
For each activity,
does the task
fall outside the
guidelines?
Y/N
Are there any other
considerations
which indicate a
problem?
Y/N
(Indicate what
the problem is, if
desired.)
Is a more detailed
assessment
required?
Y/N
Lifting and
lowering
Carrying
Pushing and
pulling
Handling while
seated
Limitations of the filter
30 Remember: The use of these guidelines does not affect the employer’s
duty to avoid or reduce the risk of injury where this is reasonably practicable.
The guideline figures, therefore, should not be regarded as weight limits or
approved figures for safe lifting. They are an aid to highlight where detailed
risk assessments are most needed. Where doubt remains, a more detailed risk
assessment should always be made.
31 The employer’s primary duty is to avoid operations which involve a risk of
injury or, where it is not practicable to do so, to assess each such operation and
reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level reasonably practicable. As the probability
of injury rises, the employer must scrutinise the operation increasingly closely with
a view to a proper assessment and the reduction of the risk of injury to the lowest
level reasonably practicable. Even for a minority of fit, well-trained individuals
working under favourable conditions, operations which exceed the guideline figures
by more than a factor of about two may represent a serious risk of injury.
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