MANUAL HANDLING RISK ASSESSMENT |
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A manual handling risk assessment is required under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and assesses risks arising from the transporting or supporting of a load using bodily force.
Examples of manual handling related hazards may be:
- Poor posture, i.e. stooping / twisting
- Repetitive handling
- Over-exerting
- Unstable loads
It is a requirement that the manual handling risk assessment be carried out by a competent person. Failure to comply with this requirement may render a manual handling risk assessment as non-conforming and void.
On a practical level, the main benefit of a manual handling risk assessment is to reduce the likelihood of manual handling hazards resulting in harm.
On a legal level, the main benefit of having a manual handling risk assessment in place is that if a worst-case scenario does happen and a manual handling hazard does result in harm, your organisation will have a legal defence.
These benefits rely on the manual handling risk assessment being kept up-to-date, and recommendations made in the risk assessment being acted on within a reasonable timeframe.