The Manual Handling Operations Regulations

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (the MHOR) apply wherever manual handling operations are carried out — that is, physical lifting, carrying or moving any load. There are no maximum weight limits set for loads, although the HSE publishes advice on the sort of weights that are likely to cause injuries. These can be found in Appendix 3 of its guidance on the regulations at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l23.pdf.

Instead of imposing maximum weight limits, the regulations require a risk assessment of the task, load and working environment. Employers are required to avoid hazardous manual handling operations (so far as reasonably practicable) by:

• redesigning the task to avoid moving the load or by automating or mechanising the process;

• making a risk assessment of operations that cannot be avoided;

• reducing the risk of injury to as low as reasonably practicable, giving particular consideration to providing mechanical assistance; and

• providing training and information for employees, including general indications and, where reasonably practicable, specific information about the load.

Safety reps have a right to information about new processes, including proposed workplace layouts. By being involved at the design stage, they have the chance to eliminate problems before a new machine, process or work system is installed. If manual handling cannot be eliminated, the main aim should be to cut the weight of loads and ensure that they are handled less often.

There may be a few tasks that cannot be altered and involve difficult lifting problems. In these cases, workers who are required to do them should be physically suited and specially trained.

Consultation with safety reps

HSE guidance emphasises the importance of consultation with safety reps “because they know at first hand the risks in the workplace and can offer practical solutions to controlling them”. Safety reps will find the appendices in the guidance particularly useful. The risk assessment filter checklist from earlier guidance has been expanded, and a manual handling assessment chart is included. There are also checklists on lifting and carrying, and pushing and pulling, with some examples indicating the degree of detail necessary for a proper assessment.