Check manufacturers’ instructions or data sheets for chemicals and equipment, as they can be very helpful in spelling out the hazards. Some workers may have particular requirements, for example new and young workers, migrant workers, new or expectant mothers, people with disabilities, temporary workers, contractors, homeworkers and lone workers may be at particular risk.
Having identified the hazards, you then have to decide how likely it is that harm will occur. Risk is a part of everyday life and you are not expected to eliminate all risks. What you must do is make sure you know about the main risks and the things you need to do to manage them responsibly. Generally, you need to do everything reasonably practicable to protect people from harm.
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 produced 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 at a later date, for example if something changes. If you have five or more employees, you are required by law to write it down. Few workplaces stay the same, so it makes sense to review what you are doing
How far must I reduce the risk? To the balancing the level ‘reasonably practicable’. This means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the risk in terms of money, time and trouble.
Do I have to provide mechanical aids in every case? You should definitely provide mechanical aids if it is reasonably practicable to do so and the risks identified in your risk assessment can be reduced or eliminated by this means. But you should consider mechanical aids in other situations as well – they can improve productivity as well as safety. Even something as simple as a sack truck can make a big improvement.
What about training? Training is important but remember that, on its own, it can’t overcome: a lack of mechanical aids; unsuitable loads; bad working conditions. Training should cover: manual handling risk factors and how injuries can occur; how to carry out safe manual handling, including good handling technique (see ‘Good handling technique for lifting’ and ‘Good handling technique for pushing and pulling’);
appropriate systems of work for the individual’s tasks and environment; use of mechanical aids; practical work to allow the trainer to identify and put right anything the trainee is not doing safely.
Good handling technique for lifting
Here are some practical tips, suitable for use in training people in safe manual handling.
