Manual Handling

 

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended)

Scale of the Problem

The most recent survey of self-reported work-related illness estimated that 1.1 million people in Britain suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in 2001/2002, including those caused by manual handling. These disorders account for around half of all work-related ill health. As a result of MSDs an estimated 12.3 million working days were lost in that year. In 1995/96, MSDs cost society £5.7 billion.

The main aim of the regulations is to prevent injury, not only to the back, but to any part of the body. Regulation 4 (1) sets out a hierarchical approach to reducing the risk from manual handling operations. This is outlined below.

• Avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as is reasonably practicable.
• Assess any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided.
• Reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable.

B & P Health and Safety Management Consultants Ltd provide a range of Manual Handling Operations compliance services, as outlined below, to support the client in complying with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended).

Services

• Policy and Procedure (management) development for manual handling operations.
• Undertaking manual handling operations risk assessments (including utilisation of manual handling assessment charts (MACs)) and identification of remedial action control measures.
• Manual handling operations risk assessment training.
• Manual handling operations awareness training.
• Manual handling toolbox talk development.