Consultation with safety reps

HSE guidance makes clear the importance of consultation with workers and their safety reps.

Safety reps will find the appendix in the guidance particularly useful. It includes guidance on using risk assessment filters, manual handling assessment charts (the MAC tool) and other HSE tools (see below) on lifting and carrying and pushing and pulling. It sets out guidance on how to decide how detailed manual handling assessments should be and whether to use:

• simple weight filters which assume that handling is infrequent, symmetrical and takes place in favourable working conditions;

• a more detailed assessment of the most common manual handling risk factors, carried out using the HSE’s “MAC tool” for example (see below); or

• a full risk assessment taking account of all the factors set out in Schedule 1 of the regulations.

The HSE website includes example checklists to help carry out full assessments.