Manual handling involves moving objects or items from one place to another by lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying or lowering. It is not only, as many people think, the fact that something is heavy which necessarily causes injury, but it could arise from the way in which something was moved or handled. This could even occur if an object was relatively light by repeating the movement many times.
What must employers do?
Where it is reasonably practicable, employers should remove the need for their employees to handle objects manually where there is a risk of being injured. This could be achieved by finding mechanical solutions to reduce the need for manual handling by employees.
If employers do need their employees to manual handle objects then they must make an assessment of all of the manual handling operations which their employees carry out, take steps to reduce the risk of injury to their lowest possible level and take steps to provide the employees with precise weight information of the object(s). The assessment should be renewed where there is reason to suggest it is no longer valid or where there has been a change in which the manual handling operations to which it relates. For example, if the weight or shape of something changes significantly the employer should re-assess the risk.
What must employees do?
As an employee, you must make use of any system of work which your employer has provided. For example, if your employer provides you with something to move an object with such as a jack, you must use it.
Example
Stacking boxes can lead to back injuries by the weight of the box, or the action of stacking a large quantity of boxes. Employers should identify this risk and assess it. If the boxes must be stacked manually they should adopt measures to reduce the risk of injury. This could mean that boxes are stacked on a shelf to avoid bending, or the weight of the box is reduced to avoid the strain and effort of the boxes. If an employer provides a trolley to move the boxes around on, the employee must use the trolley regardless of their own reservations about it.
In short
Employers should make your life easier by minimising the manual handling which you do. If you do have to handle things manually, they should make sure it is safe for you to do so and reduce the risk of injury. Make sure you use anything they provide for your own safety!
