(Insert Company Name) Manual Handling Policy
Introduction
(Insert Company Name) believes and supports the principle that every employee has
a right to work in an environment safe and free from risks. (Insert Company Name)
aim is to maintain compliance with both the Federal and State Occupation Health and
Safety legislation. Management is committed to action that ensures the reduction or
absence of injury and illness in the workplace.
All employees must comply with the provisions of this policy. Failure may result in
legal action being taken against you and the Company. Other consequences may
include counselling, transfer, dismissal, demotion or other appropriate disciplinary
action.
What is Manual Handling?
Manual Handling means an activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to
lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any person, animal,
object or thing.
In terms of tasks in the meat industry, this translates to a whole range of activities
including cutting, repetitive movements, pushing, lifting, throwing, and so on. (Insert
Company Name) recognises that the most common problem with manual handling
concerns the lifting and pushing heavy boxes of meat.
(Insert Company Name) is responsible for any injury or illness suffered by its
employees in the workplace, although contributory negligence places an obligation
on the employee as well. This policy aims to prevent the occurrence of injury and
reduce the severity of injuries resulting from manual handling.
This will be achieved by:
1. Design
The plant, work environment and equipment, containers and work practices used in
the workplace are to be designed, constructed and maintained so as to be safe and
without risk to health and safety.
2. Risk Identification
The entire workplace will be surveyed in an attempt to identify all risks
3. Risk Assessment
(Insert Company Name) will ensure that all manual handling that is identified as likely
to be a risk to health and safety is examined and assessed. This risk assessment will
be done in consultation with the employees who are required to carry out the manual
handling and their representatives.
4. Risk Control
(Insert Company Name) will ensure that as far as is workable all risks associated with
manual handling is controlled.
Eliminating Risks from Manual Handling
Design
Through Consultation with employees (Insert Company Name) intends to ensure that
the workplace and its environment are designed so as to eliminate or reduce injuries
from manual handling. This process will include three steps:
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1. Elimination
All unnecessary manual handling will be eliminated.
2. Substitution
Find ways to substitute risky activities with less risk ones. For example limiting loads,
heavy awkward object loads can be replaced by smaller units.
3. Engineering
Mechanical aids, devices, platforms, fork lifts, conveyors, trolleys, lifts, cranes and
hoists will be made available and used whenever necessary.
Risk Identification
The purpose of risk identification is to find out which tasks are causing or have the
potential to cause, manual handling injuries and to place them in some order for
assessment. To find out which tasks are causing manual handling injuries the
company will:
1. Look at Injury Records
As part of this process the Company will maintain an injury report book that contains
all the required information. Such information will include the type of injury, the
occupation of the injured party, what they were doing when they were injured, how
the injury occurred, was there a machine or any equipment involved and so on.
2. Consulting with employees and safety representatives
Employees are encouraged and requested to tell management of any manual
handling risks that is causing them concern or that they believe could lead to injury or
illness.
3. Watching actual work
Management will observe the tasks that have caused the most problems or the ones
that the employees complain cause the greatest amount of discomfort or are tiring
and then identify any problems.
Risk Assessment
Central Cost Cold Stores shall ensure that manual handling which is likely to be a
risk to health and safety will be examined and carefully assessed.
The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission has developed a Code of
Practice for Manual Handling which identifies factors that should be considered when
assessing risks, these are:
 actions and movements involved, eg pushing, pulling or bending
 layout of the workplace
 posture
 duration and frequency of activity, example repetition of the same example
 distance and time handled
 weights and forces
 characteristics of loads and equipment, for example lighting, slippery, and so on
 work organisation, for example bottlenecks or staff shortages
 age
 clothing
 special needs
 skill and experience of workers
 Any other factors considered relevant by the employer, employees and their
representatives.
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Risk Control
Controlling risks is in two separate parts, firstly Job re-design and secondly training
and induction.
1. Job Re-design
This will involve eliminating, restructuring and engineering anything in the workplace
that may be a risk to employees
2. Appropriate Training and induction
New employees will be made aware of (Insert Company Name) safety policy and
procedures. Job specific training will be given to all employees, particularly on how to
do their job with the least amount of risk.
What is your role in this policy?
Managers and Supervisors role:
Managers and Supervisors have an important role in the prevention of workplace
injury. They must ensure the all staff understand the Company’s Manual Handling
Policy. When they observe a risk they should take steps to stop it and warn people.
Managers and supervisors should always be available to talk to employees, and if a
complaint is made then they should take steps to resolve it.
Employees Role:
Each employee must ensure that they do not engage in dangerous or risky
behaviour, dangerous to themselves or towards others in the workplace, be they
other employees, supervisors, customers or so on. Employees should be aware that
they could be held legally responsible for their unlawful acts. Employees should take
all safety precautions and ensure that they follow all directions for their own health
and safety.
Further Information?
If anyone requires further information on this policy or any other matter relating to the
issue of manual handling the following people can help you:
[insert appropriate persons]
 your manager
 the Occupational Health and Safety Officer
 the Human Resources Manager/Officer
Signed:
Chief Executive Officer/Director
Date: