If you're an employer, this may come as an uncomfortable surprise, but "so far as is reasonably practicable", every employer has a duty to “avoid the need for his employees to undertake any manual handling operations at work which involve a risk of their being injured”.
*(Manual Handling Regulations 1992).
According to the TUC, over 30 per cent of all accidents reported to the HSE are connected with manual handling. These injuries generally affect the back, but can also cause severe problems to limbs, muscles, and the heart. They have a more profound effect on longer-term health because they take more time to heal.
So, employers must take action to prevent injury as a result of manual handling. They should also have a written policy as part of their overall safety policy.
In addition to your responsibilities for your employees’ safety, your employees also need to be fully aware of how to stay safe when undertaking manual handling. And, as a responsible employer, you'll be actively looking to keep them safe! You can also find out more about this here:
Manual Handling Regulatinos 1992.
As we say at Isosure, “safety doesn’t happen by accident!", which is why we have a wide-ranging selection of quick and cost-effective online training for various environments where manual handling is unavoidable, eg in the office, warehouse, aged care, construction and more. These can help give you the confidence that your employees are aware of how to avoid accidentally harming themselves when lifting. And that you are fulfilling your responsibilities, too.
Check out some of our quick explainer videos here: Isosure Training.We can also help you with undertaking assessments for risk that you may not have identified.
Contact me, Steve Newton, for professional and clear advice on manual handling in the workplace on 01706 225419. And, I can also can help you get compliant with safety risk assessments and safety policies, too.
