MANUAL HANDLING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2012 :: RMTnews 11 WHAT IS MANUAL HANDLING? The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 define it as “any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or by bodily force”. In effect it means any activity that requires an individual to lift, move or support a load will be classified as a manual handling task. EMPLOYERS’ DUTIES • Employers have a general duty to ensure the health and safety at work of all employees under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974. • Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 the employer must, as far as possible, avoid the need for hazardous manual handling operations. • Where a hazardous manual handling operation cannot be avoided, a thorough risk assessment must be undertaken. • Measures must be introduced to avoid the risk where possible and to reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level reasonably practicable (when it cannot be avoided). • The measures should encompass the provision of suitable training and information to employees. Training should include the principles of correct handling, a safe system of work and the use of any risk reduction measures provided by the employer. • Precise information should be provided on the nature of the load to be handled, including weight, centre of gravity, etc. • Monitoring must take place to ensure the effectiveness of those measures, and reassessment must be carried out where necessary. In the first instance, if a task has not been assessed under the regulations, contact your health and safety rep. RMT recommends that risk assessments of any kind are carried out in conjunction with the employer and the RMT accredited health and safety rep. If new equipment is installed or a working practice or piece of legislation changes then new assessments must be made to reflect this. The assessment should look at four specific areas. To help you remember this approach, use the word TILE, the initial letter of each element: Task, Individual, Load and Environment. Some of the factors to consider in each element are listed below. This list is not exhaustive: 1. THE TASK Does it involve twisting, stooping, bending, excessive travel, pushing, pulling or precise positioning of the load, sudden movement, inadequate rest or recovery periods, team handling or seated work? 2. THE INDIVIDUAL Does the individual require unusual strength or height, are they pregnant, disabled or suffer from a health problem, or require specialist knowledge or training? 3. THE LOAD Is the load heavy, unwieldy, difficult to grasp, sharp, hot, cold, difficult to grip, or the contents likely to move or shift? 4. THE ENVIRONMENT Space constraints, uneven, slippery or unstable floors, and variations in floor levels extremely hot cold or humid, poor lighting, poor ventilation, gusty winds, clothing or PPE that restricts movement? No manual handling activity is completely safe but using HSE guidelines, as part of a well thought out risk assessment will reduce the risks from manual handling activities. The guidelines may need to be lowered if there are environmental or other factors that could have an adverse effect or the activity involves twisting or bending, similarly if the task is being carried out frequently these guidelines should be lowered. For further details on loads and recommended frequency of lifts please consult the HSE’s Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC Tool) which is available for free on the HSE website. Mechanical handling aids can reduce the risk of injury when used correctly. Even simple aids such as trolleys, sack trucks and wheelbarrows can all be used to move items. It is better to push rather than pull using your body weight and leg muscles to do the work. Make sure you keep the load under control, particularly on slopes. Take care with machinery that is not fit for purpose or that has been ‘adapted’ for use – this could end up being more dangerous than manually lifting bulky or weighty items. In some cases more sophisticated manual handling aids may be required. Cranes, hoists, pallet trucks, conveyors and forklift trucks are used extensively in many industries to eliminate manual handling. It should be remembered that although they will eliminate many of the manual handling risks their use will introduce others, and these risks must be assessed. Another consideration is that many of these items require a periodic statutory inspection on safety critical components. Many such operations come with their own specific legislation, for example the Work at Heights Regulations 2005. A fully comprehensive guide to the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 can be downloaded for free from the HSE’s website. The document code is L23. If you are injured in the course of your work and your employer is responsible then contact your branch secretary for a Personal Injury Claim Form, L1. Your employer has a duty of care to you and must comply with the various workplace safety regulations to mitigate any hazards. If they are found negligent, you may be awarded compensation. Report any unsafe working practices to your RMT health and safety rep. MANUAL HANDLING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!