Course Options >> Manual Handling

Course Summary

The Regulations set out a framework for employers to avoid or reduce the risk of injury resulting from manual handling activities. The basic principle enshrined in this Part is that where manual handling of loads which involves a risk of injury (particularly to the back) is present, the employer must take measures to avoid or reduce the need for such manual handling. The definition of manual handling in Regulation 68 refers to activities where the characteristics of the load pose a risk and the ergonomic conditions of the activity are unfavourable. Regulation 69(c) requires that a risk assessment be carried out on all work tasks which involve manual handling activity. The risk assessment process should ensure that these activities are assessed to identify risk factors and to decide on appropriate control measures, including both engineering and organisational, to avoid or reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury. This assessment should critically review manual handling operations. Full compliance with the requirements of Regulation 69 means that the employer completes a risk assessment of manual handling tasks in consultation with relevant staff, records the results of the risk assessment in a suitable documented format, puts appropriate control measures in place to avoid or reduce manual handling Manual Handling of Loads Regulations 2007 5 Manual Handling with tables:Layout 1 30/11/2007 11:28 Page 5 activities and communicates the findings of the risk assessment to relevant staff