Twisting Reduce the guideline weights if the handler twists to the side during the operation. As a rough guide, reduce them by 10% if the handler twists beyond 45°, and by 20% if the handler twists beyond 90°. Frequent lifting and lowering The guideline weights are for infrequent operations – up to about 30 operations per hour – where the pace of work is not forced, adequate pauses to rest or use different muscles are possible, and the load is not supported by the handler for any length of time. Reduce the weights if the operation is repeated more often. As a rough guide, reduce the weights by 30% if the operation is repeated once or twice a minute, by 50% if it is repeated 5–8 times a minute, and by 80% where it is repeated more than 12 times a minute. Pushing and pulling The task is within the guidelines if the figures in Table 2 are not exceeded: See ‘Good handling technique for pushing and pulling’ for some examples of forces required to push or pull loads. Using the results: Do I need to make a more detailed assessment? Using Figure 1 is a first step. If it shows the manual handling is within the guideline figures (bearing in mind the reduced limits for twisting and frequent lifts) you do not need to do any more in most cases. But you will need to make a more detailed assessment if: the conditions given for using the guidelines (eg that the load can be readily grasped with both hands) are not met; the person doing the lifting has reduced capacity, eg through ill health or pregnancy; the handling operation must take place with the hands beyond the boxes in the diagram; or the guideline figures in the diagram are exceeded. For pushing and pulling, you should make a more detailed assessment if: there are extra risk factors like uneven floors or constricted spaces; the worker can’t push or pull the load with their hands between knuckle and shoulder height; the load has to be moved for more than about 20m without a break; or the guideline figures in Table 2 are likely to be exceeded. Table 2 Men Women Force to stop or start the load 20 kg 15 kg Sustained force to keep the load in motion 10 kg 7 kg Manual Handling at Work – A brief guide