How do I know if there’s a risk of injury? It’s a matter of judgement in each case, but there are certain things to look out for, such as people puffing and sweating, excessive fatigue, bad posture, cramped work areas, awkward or heavy loads or people with a history of back trouble. Operators can often highlight which activities are unpopular, difficult or hard work. It is difficult to be precise – so many factors vary between jobs, workplaces and people. But the general risk assessment guidelines in the next section should help you identify when you need to do a more detailed risk assessment. General risk assessment guidelines There is no such thing as a completely ‘safe’ manual handling operation. But working within the following guidelines will cut the risk and reduce the need for a more detailed assessment. Use Figure 1 to make a quick and easy assessment. Each box contains a guideline weight for lifting and lowering in that zone. (As you can see, the guideline weights are reduced if handling is done with arms extended, or at high or low levels, as that is where injuries are most likely to happen). Observe the work activity you are assessing and compare it to the diagram. First, decide which box or boxes the lifter’s hands pass through when moving the load. Then, assess the maximum weight being handled. If it is less than the figure given in the box, the operation is within the guidelines. If the lifter’s hands enter more than one box during the operation, use the smallest weight. Use an in-between weight if the hands are close to a boundary between boxes. The guideline weights assume that the load is readily grasped with both hands and that the operation takes place in reasonable working conditions, with the lifter in a stable body position. Elbow height Knuckle height Mid lower leg height Shoulder height Shoulder height Elbow height Knuckle height Mid lower leg heig Women Men 3kg 7kg 7kg 13kg 10kg 16kg 7kg 13kg 3kg 7kg 10kg 20kg 5kg 10kg 25kg 15kg 20kg 10kg 10kg 5kg Figure 1 Lifting and lowering Manual Handling at Work – A brief guide