Selwyn College
Risk Management Procedure
Manual Handling
May 2012
RMP/19
Issue: 1
Policy
 As required by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, it is our
policy to:
 To identify manual handling tasks, e.g. the transporting or supporting of
a load (through lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or
moving) by hand or by bodily force.
 Avoid hazardous manual handling operations where possible.
 Assess all hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be
avoided.
 Reduce the risk of injury, so far as is reasonably practicable by implanting
and implement control measures and procedures to control the risks.
Responsibilities
(Heads of
Departments)
To ensure that:
 Manual handling assessments are completed and recorded.
 Copies of each assessment are passed to the HR & H&S Officer.
 All manual handling tasks are identified.
 Each assessment record adequately covers the scope of the relevant tasks.
 Any specified mechanical handling equipment or Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) identified in manual handling assessments is provided.
 Any specified maintenance checks on mechanical handling equipment are
implemented and recorded.
 All staff attend a manual handling course.
 All staff attend refresher manual handling training, appropriate to their
post.
 Staff are instructed on the hazards, risks and safety measures, particularly
identified for specific tasks in the assessment records.
 Staff are working to the identified safety standards via monitoring
inspections and audits.
 Physical limitation forms must be completed as part of the induction for
new staff and also at Return to Work interviews, and following any
accident, injury or illness, which could limit a person’s ability to undertake
all or part of their duties.
 So far as is possible, upper shelves in storage areas within their
departments are used for light and less frequently used items.
Responsibilities
(Maintenance
Manager)
To ensure that:
Responsibilities
(Health & Safety
Officer)
To ensure that:
 Planned maintenance is performed on any mechanical handling equipment
by competent staff, where this is specifically identified risk assessments.
 Records are maintained for 5 years.
 Accident and sickness records are reviewed on, at least, an annual basis to
determine evidence of problems associated with particular types of tasks.
 In cases of relevant ill-health problems or conditions (e.g. pregnancy or
Selwyn College
Risk Management Procedure
Manual Handling
May 2012
RMP/19
Issue: 1
nursing stages), the capability of specific individuals is considered and
reviewed by a risk assessment.
 Where appropriate, occupational health advice is sought on the capability
of specific individuals.
 Records for training are maintained.
Responsibilities
(Employees)
Manual Handling
Assessments
Control Measures
To ensure that:
 Safety standards are followed, as instructed.
 All equipment and PPE provided for manual handling operations is used as
instructed.
 Any defects in any equipment provided are reported to their Head of
Department.
 Any relevant ill-health problems (caused at work or outside work) likely to
affect personal capability for safe manual handling tasks are reported to
Heads of Departments.
 It is the responsibility of all employees to inform their Head of
Department if at any time they are temporarily or permanently
injured/disabled and their injury/disability may affect their ability to
undertake manual handling operations.
 An assessment shall not be required for loads less than 3kg unless the task
is frequent and repetitive - in such cases the potential for Workplace
Related Upper Limb Disorder also needs to be considered.
 General risk assessments shall be used to identify whether manual
handling assessments have been prepared and are being implemented.
 Whenever possible, manual handling tasks should be eliminated or
reduced through design of the operation, or provision of mechanical
equipment or aids.
 Otherwise, specific manual handling assessments shall be prepared (see
RMP/19b).
 The assessments may take two forms: ‘simple’ assessments where the tasks fit within numerical guidelines
provided by HSE.
 ‘detailed’ assessments where the tasks fit outside the above guidelines.
 It may be possible to group tasks under one assessment where the hazards,
risks and control measures are similar.
 Manual handling assessments shall be reviewed annually or more often if
there have been changes in the matters to which they relate, or following
any accident, incident or near miss involving manual handling operations.
 The control measures may depend on the type of assessment, as follows:
 In the case of ‘simple’ assessments, provision of basic manual handling
training and no evidence or reports of relevant ill-health affecting the
capability of specific individuals.
 In the case of ‘detailed’ assessments, provision of appropriate task
design, load design, staff selection and training measures as specified in
the assessment record. It may be necessary to prioritise these measures.
Selwyn College
Risk Management Procedure
Manual Handling
May 2012
RMP/19
Issue: 1
Determining the
physical ability of
staff undertaking
manual handling
operations
 At Induction all employees shall complete a Physical Limitation
Assessment Form (RMP/19/D).
 Heads of Departments shall complete individual risk assessments when
employees identify injuries/disabilities which could potentially lead to
manual handling concerns.
 Heads of Departments shall ensure these forms are returned promptly to
the HR Officer.
 Employees may be referred to Occupational Health for assessment to
determine their fitness/ability to undertake their duties.
New and Expectant
Mothers
 Employees must advise their Head of Department as soon as their
pregnancy is confirmed.
 The HR & H&S Officer (or relevant Head of Department) will complete a
general risk assessment (RMP/9/f) to asses all manual handling activities
required of individual roles.
 Depending upon the role, some tasks may be restricted or re-assigned to
other staff.
 Risk assessments for new and expectant mothers should be reviewed
regularly throughout the pregnancy and upon return to work after
Maternity Leave.
 Restrictions are placed on the work of young workers under the age of 18
for whom a specific risk assessment will be undertaken. (Please refer to
RMP/24).
 All staff shall attend manual handling training and refresher training
relevant to their roles.
 During this course, staff shall be instructed to promptly report any relevant
ill-health problems to their Head of Department.
 Heads of Departments shall, as part of the annual safety audit, monitor and
report any muscular skeletal conditions of their staff.
 The induction form will identify any muscular skeletal conditions of new
members of staff.
 Where identified in the “detailed” risk assessments, information on
hazards, assessments and control measures shall be brought to the attention
of employees. This may require specific instruction and training (including
practical demonstrations) on the correct techniques to adopt.
 Relevant Heads of Departments shall attend a training course covering
these arrangements.
 Heads of Departments or staff appointed to prepare assessments shall
attend a specific training course.
 Heads of Departments should ensure that all contractors provide details of
manual handling assessment as part of their risk assessment
documentation.
 During the contract any alteration from the agreed working method may
only take place following a risk assessment review of the proposed
changes.
Young Workers
Information and
Training
Contractors
Selwyn College
Risk Management Procedure
Manual Handling
May 2012
RMP/19
Issue: 1
Records
 Manual handling assessments shall be completed using document no.
RMP/19/b
 Assessments shall be brought to the attention of employees and be readily
available.
 Records of all manual handling training will be kept by the HR & Health &
Safety Officer.
Review
 Heads of Departments and the Health & Safety Working Group shall
review this RMP annually, or following any changes in legislation.