Last update:

06-Jul-2003

 

Manual Handling

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MANUAL HANDLING

It is a legal requirement that all organisations/businesses ensure that manual handling is carried out safely and with minimum risk to employees and others.

Suppliers of food and catering services to Pies-R-Us are expected to carry out the necessary risk assessments and provide proper and safe systems and practices under this legislation.

Chapter Index

  1. TRAINING

  2. DUTIES

  3. CONTROL RECORDS

  4. AUDITING

  5. GUIDELINES

  6. AUDIT REPORT

    PREMISES

    TRAINING AUDIT

    DOCUMENTATION AUDIT

    MANUAL HANDLING

    SUMMARY

TRAINING

Proper training must be provided, for all personnel and management, to ensure that they are aware of the necessity to assess the risks associated with Manual Handling within their workplace.  Personnel should also be conversant with the processes and systems to report any new issues that might affect safe manual handling. 

 

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DUTIES

It is your legal duty to:-

 

Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, as far as is reasonably practicable

 

Assess the risks of injury that might result from hazardous handling that cannot be avoided.

 

Reduce the risks of injury from hazardous handling, as far as is reasonably practicable.

 

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CONTROL RECORDS

Proper records, showing evidence that thorough and regular assessments are made to reduce the likelihood of injury result from hazardous manual handling.  These records must be retained on the premises.

 

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AUDITING

A regular auditing programme is in place to ensure that proper systems and documentation are in operation

 

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GUIDELINES FOR SAFE MANUAL HANDLING

What to look for when making your assessment Ways to help you reduce the risks of injury.
Do the tasks involve:- CAN YOU:-

  • Holding the loads away from the body trunk?  

  • Twisting, stooping or reaching upwards?

  • Large vertical movement?

  • Long carrying distances?

  • Strenuous pulling or pushing?

  • Unpredictable movement of loads?

  • Repetitive handling?

  • Insufficient rest or recovery times?

  • A work rate imposed by a process or practice?  

  • Improve the workplace layout to improve efficiency?  

  • Reduce the amount of twisting and stooping?

  • Avoid lifting from floor level to above shoulder height?

  • Reduce carrying distances?

  • Avoid repetitive handling?

  • Vary the work to allow one set of muscles to rest while another is used?  

Are the loads:- CAN YOU:-

  • Heavy, bulky, awkward?

  • Difficult to grasp?

  • Unstable or unpredictable?

  • Harmful – sharp/hot/very cold?  

  • Lighten or make the load less bulky?

  • Make the load easier to grasp?

  • Make the load more stable?

  • Make the load less damaging to handle?

  • HAVE YOU ASKED YOUR SUPPLIERS TO HELP WITH THIS?
In the workplace, are there:- CAN YOU:-

  • Constraints on posture?

  • Poor floors?

  • Variations in levels?

  • Hot/Cold/Humid conditions?

  • Strong air movements?

  • Poor lighting conditions?

  • Restrictions on movement or posture from clothing or protective equipment?  

  • Remove obstructions to free movement?

  • Provide better flooring?

  • Avoid steps and steep ramps?

  • Protect against extremes of hot and cold?

  • Improve the lighting?

  • Consider less restrictive clothing/protective equipment?  

Does the job:- CAN YOU:-

  • Require unusual capability? 

  • Endanger those with health problems?

  • Endanger pregnant women?

  • Call for special information or training?  

  • Take better care of those who have a physical weakness or are pregnant?

  • Give your employees more information - i.e. about the range of tasks they are likely to face?

  • Provide additional/special training?  

 

 

AUDIT REPORT – MANUAL HANDLING

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PREMISES

DATE of AUDIT

 

AUDITOR

 

TRAINING AUDIT

Are all relevant personnel trained in safe manual handling?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Are training records available?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Are these records up to date and complete?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Is on-going training provided – i.e. for any changes in operations or methods?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Is this training properly documented and scheduled?

YES ¨    NO ¨

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DOCUMENTATION AUDIT

Has a risk assessment, specific to Manual Handling been completed?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Is the assessment properly documented?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Is there a regular review system in place?     

YES ¨    NO ¨

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MANUAL HANDLING AUDIT

Have all unnecessary manual handling tasks been removed – i.e. replaced with mechanical handling equipment ?      

YES ¨    NO ¨

Are staff able to recognise potential hazards associated with manual handling?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Are the safe methods, taught within the training procedures, put into practice?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Is there a proper system in place to report hazards and potential hazards?

YES ¨    NO ¨

Is this system properly documented?

YES ¨    NO ¨

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AUDIT SUMMARY

In your opinion, as auditor, are you satisfied that these premises are acting in accordance with the law in respect of Manual Handling?

YES ¨    NO ¨

 

If no, add comments and recommendations below:-

 
 
 
 

Audit Complete:

 

Date:

 

Name of Auditor:

 

Signature:

 

 

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