Manual Handling Guidance Note

Introduction
Manual Handling Injuries
Duties of Employers
Duties of Employees

Introduction

The manual handling of loads has long been recognised as a major source of occupational injury and ill health. National legislation provides a structured approach through which risks can be identified and corrective measures applied, with the aim of bringing about a significant reduction in the toll of injury and disablement caused by manual handling in the workplace.

Manual Handling Injuries

More than a quarter of accidents reported each year to the enforcing authorities are associated with manual handling strains and sprains which account for around 65% of injuries in this category arising from incorrect application and a prolongation of bodily forces. Poor posture and excessive repetition of movement can be important factors in their onset. Sometimes injuries are cumulative and not always the result of a single accident.

Injuries can occur to many parts of the body and not just the back. However, it is important to remember that back injuries can be very painful and are notoriously difficult to cure, and indeed diagnose.

The challenges for the safe manual handling of loads are found right across industry and are by no means restricted to the movement of heavy loads. In fact small loads in awkward places and in difficult environments may often present a greater challenge to the body's muscular and skeletal systems. The problem is further compounded by the fact that many people see small loads as too small a problem to concern themselves with.

Duties of Employers

• Minimize the need for manual handling
• Where it is required assess handling tasks
• Reduce risk of personal injury as a result of manual handling
• Provide information to the employee on how to reduce the risk of personal injury.

Duties of Employees

• Employees must make full and proper use of any equipment or system of work provided by the employer.
• Employees must inform the employer of any existing physical conditions that might affect their ability to undertake manual handling operations safely.

More detailed information relating to the legal responsibilities of employers and employees follows.

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