Summary of regulationsThe Manual Handling Operations Regulations1992 outline how to deal with risks to the safetyand health of employees who have to carry outmanual handling in the course of theiremployment, as follows:1. Assess the manual handling task toreduce any risk that may be inherent inthe operation.2. Avoid the need to carry out manualhandling as far as possible.3. Where a risk is identified, implementmeasures to reduce that risk.The requirements relevant to lifting and handlingare as follows:Employers dutiesEach employer shall, so far as is reasonablypracticable, avoid the need for employees toundertake any manual handling operations at work,which involve a risk of their being injured;orwhere this is not reasonably practicable, eachemployer shall:make a suitable and sufficientassessment of all such manual handlingoperations to be undertaken by them,having regard to those points containedin Appendix A of this notetake appropriate steps to reduce the riskof injury to those employees arising outof their undertaking any manual handlingoperations to the lowest level which isreasonably practicabletake appropriate steps to provide any ofthose employees who are undertakingany manual handling operations withgeneral indications and, where it isreasonably practicable to do so, preciseinformation on:the weight of each loadthe heaviest side of the load whosecentre of gravity is not positionedcentrally.ReferenceThe Manual Handling Operations Regulations1992, Regulation 4 (1)Any assessment that an employer has mademust be reviewed where:there is reason to suspect that it is nolonger valid, orthere has been a significant change to themanual handling operations to which thatassessment relatesWhere changes to an assessment are required,as a result of any review, an employer shallmake them.ReferenceThe Manual Handling Operations Regulations1992, Regulation 4 (2)Employers must additionally:provide safe systems of work ensure the safety of their employees andthe absence of risks in the handling,storage and transport of all types ofarticles and substancesprovide the instruction and trainingnecessary to ensure the health and safetyof their employees.Employees dutiesSection 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act,says It shall be the duty of every employeewhile at work to take reasonable care of himselfand of other persons who may be affected by hisactions. In addition, under the Manual HandlingOperations Regulations, it is the duty of eachemployee, while at work, to:make full and proper use of any systemof work provided for his use in connectionwith manual handling by his employerReferenceThe Manual Handling Operations Regulations1992, Regulation 5use any machinery or equipmentprovided by his employer in accordancewith any training or instruction receivedinform his employer, or anyone elseresponsible for safety, of any dangerouswork practice or shortcomings in hisemployers arrangements for safety.ReferenceThe Manual Handling Operations Regulations1992, Regulation 12Common injuriesStrains and sprains to muscles andjoints, torn ligaments and tendons, disctrouble and hernias. These are oftencaused by sudden and awkwardmovements, e.g. twisting or jerking whilelifting, or handling heavy loads; they arealso caused by persons attempting to liftloads beyond their physical capabilities.The muscles of the abdominal wall areparticularly vulnerable, and excessivestrain may lead to ruptures.Cuts and abrasions from rough surfaces,sharp or jagged edges, splinters,projections, etc. Protective clothingshould be worn, especially leather orPVC gloves to protect the hands.Back injuries are most frequentlysustained while lifting and handlingmanually. They may be the cumulativeeffect of repeated minor injuries, or theresult of an abrupt strain. Stoop liftingshould be avoided; it greatly increasesthe chances of sustaining back injuries.Laboratory tests show that the stressesimposed on a rounded back during stooplifting is six times that experienced if thetrunk is kept erect while bending at theknees.The risk of injury is reduced by a knowledge ofcorrect lifting techniques and not by attemptingto lift excessively heavy loads withoutassistance.Crushing of limbs, etc. by falling loads, orby fingers, hands or feet becomingtrapped by loads.Correct positioning of hands and feet in relationto the movement of the load is essential. Timberwedges should be used when raising or loweringheavy loads to prevent fingers and handsbecoming crushed. Safety shoes with steel toecaps will protect the feet. Soles of footwearshould also provide a secure grip.Making an assessmentThe assessment is the employers responsibilityalthough, in practice, that duty is likely to bedelegated. It should be possible to do mostassessments in house, but expert help may beneeded in difficult or unusual cases. Oftenassessments can be done by a team of peopleand, although employees should not make theirown assessments, their involvement or that oftheir Safety Representatives will usually beessential.The way in which assessment teams are set upshould be laid down as part of the employersmanagement system and should follow theusual procedure for consulting SafetyRepresentatives.An employer should make provision for trainingassessment teams, but if there are specialdifficulties and it is decided to call in outsideassistance, the employer should ensure that theperson is competent to make the type ofassessments required and that clear instructionsare given.The wide range of manual handling tasks thatarise on every building and construction siteneed to be fully identified. This should besystematically carried out by looking atindividual tasks and the way in which they arecarried out. Assessment forms similar to theHSEs example of an assessment checklist helpto identify the factors which affect the risk and,by giving marks for these factors, e.g.low/medium/high, the assessor is led toconclusions about the overall risk.Whilst carrying out the assessment, theassessor should consider ways of reducing anyrisk found. An assessment should not just be a paperexercise but should be used to pinpoint theunsafe features of the work, so that theemployer may improve the situation.It is quite acceptable to group tasks which havecommon features into a single or genericassessment, but care must be taken to ensurethat the range of risks is clearly identified. Theimportant thing is to identify the risk of injury,and then point the way to practicalimprovements.Significant findings should be recorded and kept,but this is not necessary if the findings areobvious and the assessments easily repeated.Lifting capacitiesThe weight that can be lifted by any individual,will vary according to personal physique, age,condition and practice, and the techniquesemployed. Compact loads of up to 30 kg can besafely carried by an average male workerproviding the proper techniques are used. Thegeneral rule is that the load should not be lifted ifit causes a feeling of strain. Assistance shouldbe available if required; an employee must notbe required to lift loads beyond his capacity.Youthful exuberance and bravado often temptyounger employees to attempt to lift loads thatare too heavy. While they may succeed in theshort term, long term damage may be done.After taking account of expert opinion and thelong history of complaints over handling heavyblocks, the Construction Industry AdvisoryCouncil has concluded that there is a high risk ofinjury in the single handed, repetitive manualhandling of building blocks heavier than 20 kg.If single person handling is needed, either blocksof 20 kg or lighter should be specified and usedor other precautions should be taken to reducethe risk by, for example, the provision ofmechanical handling.With blocks weighing less than 20 kg, manualhandling risks are still significant and suitableprecautions should be taken to minimise theserisks as much as possible.Lifting capacity declines with age and an olderperson may not be capable of lifting the sameload as a younger person; although this can beoffset by employing a better technique.Preparing to liftBefore lifting and handling any load, thefollowing points should be established:What has to be moved?What does it weigh?Can it be safely handled by one person?Where is the loads centre of gravity?Does it really have to be moved?How far does it have to be moved andfrom where to where?Will assistance be required?Can the process that requires it to bemoved be changed?Can the move be carried out more safelywith mechanical assistance?Suitable protective clothing should be worn. Thismay include gloves, safety footwear, safetyhelmets, and special overalls if hot or corrosivesubstances are to be carried.Ensure that the lifting and lowering areas areclear of tripping hazards, and likewise check theroute over which the load is to be carried.The loadLarge, heavy loads should if possible be brokendown into smaller, lighter and more manageablesizes. It is easier to lift 10 kg five times than tolift 50 kg once.Where the load has to be moved by a woman,the weight should be reduced by approximately30%.As a rough guide, where a load has to be movedfrequently, weights should be reduced asfollows: Special factors inoperationRough guideOperation repeated onceor twice a minuteReduce weight by 30%Operation repeated five toeight times a minuteReduce weight by 50%Operation repeated morethan 12 times per minuteReduce weight by 80%Average female Reduce weight by 30%Handler twists through 45degreesReduce weight by 10%Handler twists through 90degreesReduce weight by 20%Handler seated andtwistingLess than 5 kgHandler seated About 5 kgPushing or pulling a load(assumed that force isapplied with handsbetween knuckle andshoulder height)About 25 kg for startingor stopping a loadAbout 10 kg for keepinga load in motionThe size and shape of a load may be assignificant as its weight in determining whetherassistance is required. Large awkward loads,which require the arms to be extended in front ofthe body, place more strain on the back andabdomen than do compact objects carried closein to the body.The absence of natural or designed handlingpoints can also make it difficult to raise andcarry objects without strain and may requirearrows and other lifting and handling aids.Not all loads need to be carried, of course. Itmay be easiest to roll, slew or push them. Butassistance might still be required to avoid therisk of injury.Kinetic method of liftingKinetic handling must be taught by skilledtrainers. It cannot be picked up. It is importantthat postural errors are corrected during trainingbefore bad habits are established.Main features of the method:a load utilises the strong leg and thighmuscles - not the weaker back musclesas in stoop liftingmaintains the natural shape of the spinethroughout the lift. Although the bodymay be bent over, the spine remainsstraightuses the momentum of body weight toinitiate forward movement.The correct posture (i.e. the position of variousparts of the body) in performing a task isessential. Important points are:correct position of feetflexible kneesstraight backarms close to body for lifting and carryingcorrect grip or holdchin in, head upSome lifting and handling techniques employingthe kinetic method are described below:Bend at the knees (1)The weight to be lifted must be within the liftingcapacity of the individual worker and the loadshould be approached squarely, facing theintended direction of travel. The feet arepositioned about a hips width apart, one footslightly in front of the body. The knees are bentand the body lowered as close to the load aspossible while remaining relaxed and balanced.The back should be straight from hips toshoulders, but not necessarily vertical.Grasp the load (2)The load is tilted with one hand (if necessary) sothat the other hand can obtain a secure grip atthe corner nearest the body. The free hand isthen transferred to the furthest corner of the loadand drawn as close to the trunk as possible.Arms should be well tucked in to providemaximum support to the load.Lift, using the legs (3)The load can then be lifted by straightening thelegs so that the body and load move upwards inunison. All movements should be smooth andnatural. Jerking, twisting, or strainingmovements should be avoided.Lifting should feel comfortable. Liftingmovements will remain smooth and naturalproviding the back and head are kept naturallyerect. This is achieved by looking straight aheadwhen straightening the legs, instead of lookingdown at the load.Carrying the load (4)The load should be held firmly into the body andcarried to where it is to be deposited. The closerthe centre of gravity of the load can be kept tothat of the body, the easier and more natural thelift. It is important to be able to see over oraround the load so as to avoid tripping hazards.When the weight is approaching the maximumlifting capacity of the individual, it will benecessary to lean back on the hips with the loadto bring the trunk to the erect position beforestraightening the legs to lift the load. In thisinstance the body is being used simply as acounterbalance to keep muscular effort down toa minimum.Changing gripGrips should not be changed while carrying theload. First rest the load on a ledge or other firmsupport, then change the grip if necessary.StackingLoads should not be lifted above shoulderheight. When it is impossible to lift and stackwith the elbows tucked into the sides of thebody, a platform should be used to stand on. Anintermediate platform should also be used whenlifting loads down from a higher level.use of body weight. Hand hooks or lifting aidsHand hooks or lifting aids should be used ifloads are unwieldy or so irregular in shape that agood grip cannot be maintained.Use of a lifting platformThe squat position is adopted as near to theload as possible. Keeping a straight back, andusing the leg muscles, the load should be liftedonto a platform. The person lifting the load thenstands as near to the platform as possible and,bending at the knees and hips (NOT the back),eases the load onto his shoulder, adjusts forbalance and straightens at the knees and hips.For lowering the load, the procedure is reversed.Carrying a load under one arm, supported onthe hip, causes strain and should be avoided.Team liftingWhen large or awkward weights are involved,assistance should be sought. The assistantshould be of similar height and build, so that theraised load does not become unbalanced orunevenly distributed.Co-ordinating team activity is important in teamlifting. One person should give directions duringlifting, carrying and lowering.Properly designed lifting aids will enable sometasks to be performed more quickly and easilyand also eliminate the risk of injury or damageUsing rollers to move a loadLengths of steel pipe or proper rollers can beused to roll or slew heavy crates. The load ispushed gently forward on two or more rollers,and further rollers are inserted under the frontend as necessary. Care must be taken by the person placing therollers to avoid being trapped as the load movesforward, and to ensure that those pushing do nottrip over the rollers that have previously beenused.Whenever practical, mechanical handling andlifting should replace manual techniques. Thiswill reduce the risk of fatigue, improve efficiencyand reduce the risk of accidents.

Safety checklistManual handling and liftingPreparationWhat is being lifted?Where to and how far?How many people will be needed to movethe load safely?Are they all trained in kinetic lifting andhandling?What methods and equipment will berequired?Is the required equipment available?Would mechanical means be morepractical or appropriate?Is the lifting and handling area clear ofhazards?Is the operation part of a routine? If so,could it be more effectively planned andexecuted?Lifting and handlingIs the proper clothing in use?Are proper (kinetic) lifting methods beingemployed?Is co-ordination satisfactory in dual andteam lifting?Is the necessary equipment in use or tohand?Are excessively heavy weights beinglifted?Are loads being deposited or stackedsafely and securely?Is adequate supervision employed wherenecessary?After lifting and handlingAre any incidents or accidents reportedand recorded?Where injuries have been sustained, hasmedical attention been sought?Is the damage or loss of equipment etc.,

FACTORS WHICH AN EMPLOYER MUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AND QUESTIONS HE ORSHE MUST CONSIDER WHEN MAKING AN ASSESSMENT OF MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONSFactors1. The tasks Do they involve holding or manipulating loads at a distance from thetrunk?unsatisfactory body movements or postureespeciallya. twisting the trunk?b. stooping?c. reaching upwards?excessive movement of loads, especiallya. excessive lifting distance?b. excessive lowering distance?c. excessive carrying distance?excessive pushing or pulling?risk of sudden movement?frequent physical effort?prolonged physical effort?insufficient rest periods?insufficient recovery periods?a rate of work imposed by a process?2. The loads Are they heavy?bulky or unwieldy?difficult to grasp?unstable, or with contents likely to shift?sharp, hot, or otherwise potentially damaging?3. The working environment Are there space constraints preventing good posture?uneven, slippery or unstable floors?variations in level of floors or work surfaces?extremes in temperature or humidity?conditions causing ventilation problems orgusts of wind?poor lighting conditions?4. Individual capability Does the job require unusual strength, height?create a hazard to those who might reasonably beconsidered to be pregnant or have a healthproblem?require special information or training for its safeperformance?5. Other factors Is movement or posture hindered by personal protective equipment or byclothing?recorded?