Problems to look for when making an assessment Ways of reducing the risk of injury The tasks, do they involve: holding loads away from the body? twisting, stooping or reaching upwards? large vertical movement? long carrying distances? strenuous pushing or pulling? repetitive handling? insufficient rest or recovery time? a work rate imposed by a process? Can you: use a lifting aid? improve workplace layout to improve efficiency? reduce the amount of twisting and stooping? avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height, especially heavy loads? reduce carrying distances? avoid repetitive handling? vary the work, allowing one set of muscles to rest while another is used? push rather than pull? The loads, are they: heavy or bulky? difficult to grasp? unstable or likely to move unpredictably (like animals)? harmful, eg sharp or hot? awkwardly stacked? too large for the handler to see over? Can you make the load: lighter or less bulky? easier to grasp? more stable? evenly stacked? If the load comes in from elsewhere, have you asked the supplier to help, eg by providing handles or smaller packages? Ask your employees what they think the hazards are, as they may notice things that are not obvious to you and may have some good ideas on how to control the risks. Check manufacturers’ instructions or data-sheets for chemicals and equipment, as they can be very helpful in spelling out the hazards. Some workers may have particular requirements, for example new and young workers, migrant workers, new or expectant mothers, people with disabilities, temporary workers, contractors, homeworkers and lone workers may be at particular risk. Having identified the hazards, you then have to decide how likely it is that harm will occur. Risk is a part of everyday life and you are not expected to eliminate all risks. What you must do is make sure you know about the main risks and the things you need to do to manage them responsibly. Generally, you need to do everything reasonably practicable to protect people from harm. Make a record of your significant findings – the hazards, how people might be harmed by them and what you have in place to control the risks. Any record produced should be simple and focused on controls. If you have fewer than five employees you do not have to write anything down. But it is useful to do this so you can review it at a later date, for example if something changes. If you have five or more employees, you are required by law to write it down. Few workplaces stay the same, so it makes sense to review what you are doing regularly. Table 1 Making an assessment Manual Handling at Work – A brief guide