Manual handling accidents account for more than a third of all accidents reported each year to the enforcing authorities (i.e. HSE and Local Authorities). Fatal manual handling accidents are rare, accidents resulting in a major injury (e.g. broken bones etc.) are more common, accounting for 10.5% of the total number of reported manual handling accidents in 2001/02. An estimated 12.3 million working days are lost and on average each sufferer took about 20 days off in that 12 month period.
Manual handling accidents can occur at any workplace, they do not just happen in jobs which involve heavy manual labour.
What does the law say?
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states that employers have duties under the above act to ensure the health and safety of all employees and anyone who may be affected by their work. This includes taking steps to control manual handling risks.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 place duties on employers to assess risks at work (including manual handling) and where necessary take action to safe guard health and safety.
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, as amended in 2002 require employers more specifically to avoid, assess and reduce hazardous manual handling tasks.
Where do I start?
Avoid
If the general assessment carried out under regulation 3(1) of the Management Regulations indicates a possibility of injury through manual handling operations, the first thing to consider is whether the manual handling operation can be avoided altogether.
When trying to avoid manual handling the first questions to ask are; whether the load/s need to be handled at all, or could the work be done in a different way? For example, can a process such as machining or wrapping be carried out in situ, without handling the loads?
If so far as is reasonably practicable, handling of the load cannot be avoided, then can the operation/s be either automated or mechanized? Examination of existing activities may also reveal opportunities for avoiding manual handling operations that involve a risk of injury. Such improvements often bring additional benefits in terms of greater efficiency and productivity, and reduced damage to loads.
Assess
Where the general assessment carried out under regulation 3(1) of the Management Regulations indicates a possibility of injury from manual handling operations, but you can not avoid/automate/mechanise reasonably, a more specific assessment should be carried out as required by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, Reg 4.
Most situations will require just a few minutes' observation to identify ways to make the activity easier and less risky i.e. less physically demanding. In the booklet included in this pack 'Getting to grips with Manual Handling - A short guide' you will find easy-to-use guidelines to help decide whether there are risky lifting activities where a full assessment is required.
It is strongly recommended that you include your employees in the assessment - they often know what problems there are and how best to solve them. If their work is varied or not closely supervised, make sure they are aware what risks to look for when manual handling, and what to do about them.
The important thing in all assessments is to identify all significant risks of injury and point the way to practical improvements, therefore reducing the risk of injury.
The final responsibility for assessments rests with employers.
Further information
Further information is available in the HSE publication 'Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) Guidance on Regulations, ISBN 0-7176-2823-X (L23) available from HSE Books, all good bookshops and from the Health & Safety Executive Website.
Download a copy of the HSE "Getting to trips with Manual Handling - a short Guide" (PDF , 367KB) and the HSE Manual Handling Assessment Charts (PDF , 460KB).
Advice is available from South Holland District Council, Community & Neighbourhood Services, Safety & Environment Team, 01775 761161.
