Manual handling
Manual handling, as defined by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, is 'any transporting or supporting of a load, by one or more workers, including lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving of a load, which by reason of its characteristics or unfavourable ergonomic conditions involves a risk particularly of back injury to workers'.
In these circumstances, employers are required to:
- Identify and avoid hazardous manual handling operations for employees where possible
- Carry out an assessment of any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided, taking into account the load, task, environment and the individual performing the task
- Remove or reduce any risk of injury based on the assessment
- Provide information to those affected
The Health and Safety Executive has published manual handling guidelines on their website.
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