Manual Handling Risk Assessments

Have you been overlooking the importance of Manual Handling Risk Assessments? It’s quite likely.

Figures show that poor lifting techniques are an incredibly common cause of workplace injuries. A staggering nine million working days and £2 billion are lost each year due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

With that said, can you really afford to ignore improper lifting techniques?

The truth is that manual handling takes on many forms, from picking up a cardboard box in the office to hefting a crate of bricks on a construction site. No matter the task, a thorough risk assessment is key to avoiding mishaps and saving money.

Generally, those in physically demanding jobs are more prone to MSDs than their less strenuous counterparts. However, regardless of your industry, there are factors for you to take into consideration.

What is Manual Handling?

Manual handling can involve anything from moving an object – such as a box, machinery, or stock – to lifting, supporting, or moving people or even animals.

Anything that involves the following could be considered manual handling:

Pushing
Pulling
Lifting
Moving
Carrying
Handling

What is a Manual Handling Risk Assessment?

As an employer, you have a legal duty to keep your employees safe in the workplace. This includes doing what is reasonably practical to prevent injuries when they are carrying out manual handling tasks. This is mandated by the Health & Safety Act (1974).

Failure to protect the health of your employees could lead to severe consequences, such as a negligence claim against you.

One way to protect yourself is to carry out regular Manual Handling Risk Assessments. These detailed reports clearly highlight any potential risks in your or your employees’ work routine.

Based on the results of the assessment, you can create clear safety policies, arrange relevant training, and communicate sensible working conduct for your workers.

Why should a Manual Handling Risk Assessment be performed?

The truth is that Manual Handling Risk Assessments are typically neither time-consuming nor expensive. However, the cost associated with not carrying them out can be substantial, often leading to common workplace injuries.

Common workplace injuries include:

Muscle strain
Acute strains and sprains
Torn ligaments
Postural strains and sprains
Joint stiffness
Disc strain
Herniated disc
General backache

Manual Handling Risk Assessments are one of the most effective ways to comply with the Health & Safety Act (1974). The risks of not carrying out an assessment include:

Workplace injuries and long-term health conditions
Lawsuits and legal action
Large fines for non-compliance
Loss of productivity
Lost working days

Put simply, regular Manual Handling Risk Assessments are one of the best ways to minimise these common injuries, keeping you and your workforce safe and healthy.

Who is responsible for Manual Handling Risk Assessments?

As an employer, you are legally responsible for ensuring risk assessments are carried out as stated in the Manual Handling Operations Regulation 1992. It is also worth noting that if your organisation employs five or more people, you are required to record the results of the risk assessment.

pm Connections can oversee the assessments and regularly monitor and review all outcomes to ensure procedures are followed correctly.

When is a Manual Handling Risk Assessment required?

As a guideline, a Manual Handling Risk Assessment should be reviewed annually. However, if significant changes occur in your workplace, such as new staff, new processes, or different equipment, you should conduct an assessment more frequently.

At pm Connections, our approach to Manual Handling Risk Assessments is tailored to your business’s unique needs.

For larger, more complex, or hazardous workplaces, we typically recommend more frequent assessments. For smaller businesses, the frequency may be less, but it is still crucial to stay vigilant and responsive to any changes.

Book a Manual Handling Risk Assessment with pm Connections

A risk assessment pinpoints any risk employees may encounter while at work. Implementing safety measures can prevent any practices that could cause potential accidents.

Our experts can answer all questions involving Manual Handling Risk Assessment to create a safe and productive environment that focuses on employee safety and morale.