Policies, Procedures & Guidance

Manual Handling

The transporting or supporting of a load by hand or bodily force, or Manual Handling, can cause musculoskeletal injuries, which account for a third of all workplace injuries in the UK. Find out how to avoid, assess and reduce the use of manual handling and injuries caused by it.

Manual Handling Operations are defined by the Health and Safety Executive as 'any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force.' A load can be an object or person.

Manual Handling can cause musculoskeletal injuries, which account for a third of all workplace injuries in the UK.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 cover manual handling activities at work. The key points to consider are:

Avoid - the need for manual handling as far as is reasonably practicable
Assess - the risk of injury from any manual handling activity that can't be avoided; and
Reduce - the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable

Manual Handling

Manual Handling Risk Assessment Template