Manual handling at work: A brief guide

Lifting and lowering: Do I need to make a more detailed assessment?

You will need to make a more detailed assessment using the MAC
tool or full risk assessment checklists (or equivalent) if:

■■ the handling operation must take place with the hands outside
the zones in Figure 1;
■■ the weight exceeds those in Figure 1;
■■ the handling involves torso twisting;
■■ the handling is more frequent than one lift every two minutes;
■■ the handling is done by a team;
■■ the handling operations are complex, for example, the weights
vary significantly or there are several start and finish locations;
■■ the lift does not meet the conditions given for using the
guidelines, for example, if the load is difficult to grasp or handle;
■■ the person lifting may be at significant risk, for example, new or
expectant mothers, young workers, those new to the job, or
those with a disability, significant health problem or recent injury.

Carrying risk filter

You can apply the filter weights for lifting and lowering in Figure 1
to carrying operations where the load:

■■ is held against the body;

■■ is carried no further than about 10 m without resting;
■■ does not prevent the person from walking normally;
■■ does not obstruct the view of the person carrying it;
■■ does not require the hands to be held below knuckle height or
much above elbow height.

Where you can carry the load securely on the shoulder without
lifting it first (for example, by sliding it onto your shoulder), you can
apply the filter values up to 20 m.

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 Manual handling at work: A brief guide

Pushing and pulling risk filter

In pushing and pulling operations, the load
might be slid, rolled or moved on wheels.
Observe the worker’s general posture during
the operation. Figure 2 shows some acceptable
push/pull postures. The task is likely to be low
risk if:

■■ the force is applied with the hands;

■■ the torso is largely upright and not twisted;
■■ the hands are between hip and shoulder
height;
■■ the distance moved without a pause or
break is no more than about 20 m.

Pushing and pulling: Do I need to make a more

detailed assessment?
If the load can be moved and controlled very
easily, for example with one hand, you do not
need to do a more detailed assessment. You
should make a more detailed assessment
using, for example, the RAPP tool or full risk
assessment checklists (or equivalent) if:

■■ the posture shows that the task requires

significant forces, for example, leaning;
■■ there are extra risk factors like slopes,
uneven floors, constricted spaces or
trapping hazards.
Figure 2 Acceptable push/pull postures

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Manual handling at work: A brief guide

Handling while seated

Figure 3 Handling while seated

The filter values for handling operations carried out while seated, as
shown in Figure 3, are Men: 5 kg and Women: 3 kg. These values
only apply for two-handed lifting and when the hands are within the
green zone shown. If handling beyond the green zone is unavoidable,
you should make a full assessment.

Record and review

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 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
later, for example, if something changes.

Regularly review your work activities to make sure the risks are being
adequately controlled and that your risk assessment remains relevant
– few workplaces stay the same because production processes or
workers may change.

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 Manual handling at work: A brief guide

What about manual handling training?

Providing information and training alone will not ensure safe manual
handling.9 The first objective should always be to design the handling
operations to be as safe as reasonably practicable. Manual handling
training is important to further manage the risk of injury if the task
cannot be avoided and you have already taken action to reduce the
risk. However, on its own, it can’t overcome:

■■ a lack of mechanical aids;

■■ badly designed tasks;
■■ unsuitable loads;
■■ an unsuitable working environment.

The information covered by manual handling training should be

specific to the job and should include:

■■ manual handling risk factors and how injuries can happen;

■■ appropriate systems of work for the individual’s tasks and
environment;
■■ use of mechanical aids;
■■ how to carry out safe manual handling, including good
handling techniques;1
■■ practical work relevant to the job to allow the trainer to identify
and put right anything the trainee is not doing safely;
■■ how to report symptoms and injuries.

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Manual handling at work: A brief guide

Risks and controls

Table 1 includes some practical advice on what to look for when making an assessment
and suggests ways to control the risks.

Table 1 Risks and how to control them

Risks to look for when making an Ways of reducing the risk of injury
assessment
The tasks
Do they involve: Can you:
■■ holding loads away from the body? ■■ use a lifting aid?
■■ twisting, stooping or reaching ■■ change workplace layout to improve
upwards? efficiency?
■■ large vertical movement? ■■ reduce the amount of twisting and
■■ long carrying distances? stooping?
■■ strenuous pushing or pulling? ■■ avoid lifting from floor level or above
■■ repetitive handling? shoulder height, especially
■■ risk of sudden movement of loads? heavy loads?
■■ insufficient rest or recovery time? ■■ reduce carrying distances?
■■ a work rate imposed by a process? ■■ use powered handling devices to
eliminate pushing and pulling?
■■ avoid repetitive handling?
■■ take steps to reduce fatigue?
■■ vary the work, allowing one set of
muscles to rest while another is used?
The loads
Are they: Can you make the load:
■■ heavy or bulky? ■■ lighter or less bulky?
■■ difficult to grasp? ■■ easier to grasp?
■■ unstable or likely to move ■■ more stable?
unpredictably? ■■ less harmful?
■■ harmful, eg sharp or hot? ■■ evenly stacked?
■■ awkwardly stacked?
■■ too large for the handler to see over? If the load comes in from elsewhere, have
you asked the supplier to help, eg by
providing handles or smaller packages?

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 Manual handling at work: A brief guide

Risks to look for when making an Ways of reducing the risk of injury
assessment
The working environment
Are there: Can you:
■■ restrictions on posture? ■■ remove obstructions to free
■■ bumpy, obstructed or slippery floors? movement?
■■ variations in floor levels? ■■ provide better flooring and/or slip-
■■ hot/cold/humid conditions? resistant footwear?
■■ gusts of wind or other strong air ■■ avoid steps and steep ramps?
movements? ■■ prevent extremes of hot and cold?
■■ poor lighting conditions? ■■ improve ventilation?
■■ restrictions on movements from ■■ improve lighting?
clothes or personal protective ■■ provide suitable protective clothing
equipment (PPE)? or PPE that is less restrictive?
Individual capacity
Does the job: Can you:
■■ require unusual capability, eg above ■■ consider the design of the task?
average strength or agility? ■■ pay particular attention to those who
■■ pose a risk to those with a health have a physical weakness?
problem or learning/physical disability? ■■ take extra care of, eg new or
■■ pose a risk to new or expectant expectant mothers and new/young
mothers? workers?
■■ pose a risk to new or young workers? ■■ give your workers more information,
■■ call for special information or training? eg about the range of tasks?
■■ provide more training?
■■ get advice from an occupational
health advisor if you need to?

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Manual handling at work: A brief guide

Risks to look for when making an Ways of reducing the risk of injury
assessment
Handling aids and equipment
Consider: Can you:
■■ is the device the correct type for ■■ provide equipment that is more
the job? suitable for the task?
■■ is it well maintained? ■■ carry out planned preventive
■■ are the wheels on the device suited maintenance to prevent problems?
to the floor surface? ■■ change the wheels, tyres and/or
■■ do the wheels run freely? flooring so that equipment moves
■■ is the handle height between the easily?
waist and shoulders? ■■ provide better handles and
■■ are the handle grips in good handle grips?
condition and comfortable? ■■ make the brakes easier to use,
■■ are there any brakes? If so, do reliable and effective?
they work?
Work organisation factors
Consider: Can you:
■■ is the work repetitive? ■■ change tasks to increase variety?
■■ is the work machine or system-paced? ■■ adjust the work rate?
■■ do workers feel the demands of the ■■ make more use of workers’ skills?
work are excessive? ■■ make workloads and deadlines more
■■ do workers have little control of the achievable?
work and working methods? ■■ involve workers in decisions?
■■ is there poor communication ■■ encourage good communication and
between managers and workers? teamwork?
■■ provide better training and
information?

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 Manual handling at work: A brief guide

Find out more

1 HSE’s website on musculoskeletal disorders:
www.hse.gov.uk/msd
2 Risk assessment: A brief guide to controlling risks in the
workplace Leaflet INDG163(rev4) HSE 2014
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf
3 Manual handling. Manual Handling Operations Regulations
1992. Guidance on Regulations L23 (Fourth edition) HSE 2016
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l23.htm
4 Consulting employees on health and safety: A brief guide to the
law Leaflet INDG232(rev2) HSE 2013
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg232.pdf
5 Making the best use of lifting and handling aids Leaflet
INDG398(rev1) HSE 2013
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg398.pdf
6 Manual handling assessment charts (the MAC tool) Leaflet
INDG383(rev3) HSE 2018
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg383.htm
7 Risk assessment of pushing and pulling (RAPP) tool Leaflet
INDG478 HSE 2016
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg478.htm
8 Full manual handling risk assessment: Examples of
assessment checklists
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck5.pdf
9 For help seeking the right type of manual handling advice, see
‘Getting help with manual handling risks in your business’
http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/external-help.htm

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 Further information
For information about health and safety visit https://books.hse.gov.uk or
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You can view HSE guidance online and order priced publications from the
website. HSE priced publications are also available from bookshops.
To report inconsistencies or inaccuracies in this guidance email
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This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the
guidance is not compulsory, unless specifically stated, and you are free to
take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be
doing enough to comply with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to
secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance.
This leaflet is available in packs from HSE Books ISBN 978 0 7176 6732 1.
A web version can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg143.htm.
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regarding this publication should be sent to [email protected]
First published 01/20

01/20 INDG143(rev4)

Published with the permission of the Health

and Safety Executive on behalf of the Controller
of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
www.tso.co.uk https://books.hse.gov.uk/