Page 188 - IGC BOOK

Avoiding or Minimising the Risk of Manual Handling

The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to reduce the risk of injury associated
with manual handing. The manual handling risk must be assessed, and suitable controls must be
introduced to reduce the risk to an acceptable standard.

The hierarchy of control measures for manual handling:

The Manual Handling Regulations set out a clear hierarchy of measures you must follow to
prevent and manage the risks from hazardous manual handling:

• avoid hazardous manual handling operations, ‘so far as reasonably practicable’

• assess the risk of injury to workers from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be
avoided

• reduce the risk of injury to workers from hazardous manual handling to as low as reasonably
practicable.

Avoid Manual Handling Operations

Eliminate – where every possible the manual handling operation must be eliminated by
automation or mechanisation for example use of conveyor system, electric-powered pallet truck,
overhead cranes etc., will prevent workers from using their body force to push or pull the load.

Assess the Risk
Carry out a manual handling risk assessment when the risk cannot be avoided. Involve workers
in this process and consider the factors such as LOAD, INDIVIDUAL, TASK, and ENVIRONMENT.

Reduce the Risk

Use manual handling aids such as hoists, trolleys, barrel lifts, gin wheels, sack trucks,
wheelbarrow which requires physical force to lift, push or pull.

Manual handling aids does not eliminate the manual handling risk, however it makes the task
easier.

Split the load or make it smaller or lighter which is easy to carry. If the load cannot split, then
consider team handling or use mechanical handling equipment.

Consider the same factors which is identified above while carrying out manual handling
assessment – The Load, individual, task and environment.

Load

Controlling the load helps to reduce the risk.

The shape of the load determines how it is going to be lifted or moved. Some loads are large in
shape, some are heavy, and others require an awkward posture to hold due to the weight being
unevenly distributed.

ENSIGN | Unit IG2 – Element 6 – Musculoskeletal 12
Health