Any form of activity that requires an employee to lift, move, or support a load is classed as a manual handling task.
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Free Manual Handling Risk Assessment Example
Download our manual handling risk assessment template for free now
Free Manual Handling Risk Assessment Example
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A risk assessment is an examination of anything in your work that can cause harm to people.
Risk assessments are important because of the following:
- Legal compliance: Employers must carry out a risk assessment to identify potential hazards and take steps to reduce harm as a legal requirement.
- Employee protection: Risk assessments help to protect your employees and the general public by ensuring sufficient control measures are in place.
- Reinforcing safety policies: Risk assessments help to reinforce a thorough Health & Safety policy, showing you have the correct control measures.
- Cost-effective: Risk assessments help to focus the employer on the risks that matter the most. Leading to simple and effective control measures to protect the workforce.
There are five stages to carrying out a risk assessment. Every Health & Safety assessment will include: identifying potential hazards, assessing who may be harmed, evaluating the risks, recording significant findings, and reviewing your risk assessment.
Peninsula is an industry-leading risk assessment company - helping you carry out your assessments every step of the way. With our expertise, we can help keep your employees, customers, and business safe from harm.
Yes if you fail to carry out a risk assessment and an employee is injured, you can be taken to a tribunal. If found guilty, you can be hit with both financial and reputational damages.
A Health & Safety risk assessment can cost anything from £200 to £1,300. It really depends on what your business entails, what kind of risks are found, and what methods are needed to manage them. Speak to one of our Health & Safety consultants today for more advice.
As an employer, you have a legal duty to conduct a pregnancy risk assessment for both new and expectant mothers - download our free pregnancy risk assessment template today to find out how to.
A risk assessment template is a document that identifies potential workplace hazards, evaluates their harm, and records measures to mitigate highlighted risks. The main aspects of the template will include the identification of hazards (anything physical, chemical, biological, or ergonomic), the people at risk (how and to what extent), what measures are in place, and what controls can be implemented.
Employers are required to take reasonably practicable measures to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees whilst they are at work.
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Any form of activity that requires an employee to lift, move, or support a load is classed as a manual handling task.
The injuries caused by incorrect manual handling can have huge impacts on both the employer and affected workers.
You can significantly reduce work-related injuries by promoting Health & Safety policies. Like a manual handling risk assessment.
Download our free manual handling risk assessment template for free. And see how you can promote safe working practices in your business. Minimising future workplace accidents and injuries. Our Health & Safety experts have also created a free , outlining correct manual handling techniques - keeping your employees free from injury.
A risk assessment for manual handling is conducted to identify and manage risks during tasks that require human handling and establish the methods for the tasks to be carried out safely.
Employers can then use the assessment to provide reasonably practical training on the working practices to their employees.
Some tasks can be done with machines and don’t need human assistance. However, for tasks that do, it’s vital to use risk assessments and place sensible measures to prevent injuries.
Download our manual handling risk assessment example today, ready for you to use when required.
What are the risks of manual handling?
There are many risks from manual handling such as strains and sprains. Others include:
Limb issues: affecting areas such as neck, arms, wrists, and knees.
Long-term discomfort and pain: such as aching, tingling, swelling, and numbness.
A reduced ability to work: not using proper techniques can lead to the above symptoms and a reduced ability to work at their usual level.
Access our risk assessment for manual handling template now and keep your employees safe.
Are manual handling risk assessments a legal requirement?
Under UK Health & Safety laws, employers must protect their employees from risk of injury during manual handling in the workplace. This included lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying loads, putting down.
One way to do this is to carry out a manual handling assessment. This assessment will help you to identify risks and implement control measures to avoid your employees getting injured.
Our experts have put together a manual handling risk assessment template, ready for you to download and use when needed. If you need further advice on manual handling risk assessments - call our experts today.
Our Health & Safety experts have also created a free , outlining correct manual handling techniques - keeping your employees free from injury.
When should a manual handling risk assessment be performed?
Legislation requires you to conduct a risk assessment for manual handling when you cannot avoid using manual handling during work.
These, like most business risk assessments, help you manage work activities and decide on suitable control measures.
It’s good business practice to review all Health & Safety policies and risk assessments:
Annually.
After any workplace accident.
After relevant legislation updates.
Changes in business processes.
It's important you carry out training off the back of a manual handling assessment, especially for new starters. But also as refresher training for current staff.
Who is responsible for conducting a manual handling risk assessment?
Responsibility normally falls to the employer. They hold overall responsibility for such tasks, as well as other workplace health and safety.
This doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself.
You can appoint responsible Health & Safety officers, who are competent and trained in managing risks. Your officer must be experienced and qualified to carry out a manual handling assessment within your business.
For more help on this, download our manual handling risk assessment template - ready to use when required.
Without one, it can affect workers’ wellbeing, retention, and overall trust in the business. Not to mention direct effects, like compensation fees, , and business disruptions.
Workers are responsible for:
Following safe working methods.
Using equipment safely.
Co-operating with management on Health & Safety matters.
Reporting potential safety risks discovered during tasks.
Taking care not to put themselves or others at risk.
If you choose not to carry out manual handling risk assessments, you could leave your employees at risk of injury. Which in turn, could lead to claims being made against your company.
Download our free manual handling risk assessment template today to keep all your employees safe.
An example of when a manual handling risk assessment will be conducted
An example of when a manual handling risk assessment will be needed is moving a heavy box. Such as:
What is the task? Moving a heavy box or object from a low shelf to a higher shelf.
What is the load? The weight of the box is heavy, it's awkwardly shaped and difficult to grip, the box contains loose materials so is likely to move around.
What environment is the task being undertaken? The space is cramped and small, the floor has obstructions and is uneven, and the lighting is poor.
What is the capability of the individual? They may struggle to life the heavy box, or may not have completed required training for this type of lift.
The following explains how a risk assessment for manual handling will help with the task, and any control measures that may be implemented:
There is an initial high risk of harm due to the high, heavy, and awkward load - as well as the poor environment and the limitations of the person trying to lift the load.
The following control measures will be implemented:
Assistance: ask a colleague to share the load, help with the lift, and improve overall control.
Use a mechanical aid: a trolley or jack can be used to move the box, as well a hoist if required.
Modify the load: the load can be divided into lighter and small sections to make the load lighter - or you could even repack it.
Training: specific training can b e provided to employees on how to correctly lift heavy objects to avoid injury.
It would be helpful to clearly display a manual handling poster to help employees when lifting heavy objects, download your free manual handling poster now.
What should be included in a manual handling risk assessment template?
Whether you’re carrying boxes in the office or moving loads on a construction site, it’s important to cover all aspects of manual handling. Which is why it's important you have a manual handling risk assessment example.
Having basic principles can help staff move loads as safely as possible. And minimise work-related injuries, particularly musculoskeletal disorders and other medical issues.
Some manual handling risk assessment factors to consider:
Introduce mechanical aids
Minimise moving loads across long distances
Minimise obstructions in the work area
Reduce lifting loads from floor level or above shoulder height
Provide frequent breaks to help muscle recovery
Assign suitable tasks based on workers’ capability (especially for vulnerable workers like young people, those with health conditions, or pregnant workers).
It’s a legal requirement that your workers are competently trained for tasks involving manual handling. However, if possible, try to consider mechanical aids before introducing training.
Mechanical aids like forklifts, conveyors, hoists, and trolleys can significantly help reduce risks if used correctly. Include them in your risk assessment template and inspect the equipment regularly.
Our Health & Safety experts have also created a free , outlining correct manual handling techniques - keeping your employees free from injury.
What are the benefits of have a manual handling risk assessment template?
There are many benefits to having a manual handling risk assessment template ready to use, such as keeping your employees safe.
Others include:
Being able to easily identify hazards to prevent accidents or injury.
Being able to provide a constant and easy-to-use framework for assessing risks from manual handling.
Being able to be consistent when assessing an employee's capability to life a heavy object.
Being able to steam line your documentation with a pre-made template.
Managing hazardous work tasks can help safeguard all your employees under your care. Which in turn increases business productivity for you, and workforce morale.
Peninsula can supply a manual handling risk assessment example that suits your business. We also offer expert employment Health & Safety advice. And also provide services on risk assessment and safety training. So, download our manual handling risk assessment template for free now.
Peninsula clients also get access to 24/7 HR consultation with our employment specialists. And if you are not yet a client, you can still enjoy free employment health and safety advice from one of our business experts. Simply call us on 0800 158 2313.
Disclaimer: This template is provided ‘as is’ and Peninsula Business Services Ltd excludes all representations, warranties, obligations and liabilities in relation to the template to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Peninsula Business Services Ltd is not liable for any errors or omissions in the template and shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage of any kind caused by its use. Use of the template is entirely at the risk of the User and should you wish to do so then independent legal advice should be sought before use.
Use of the template will be deemed to constitute acceptance of the above terms.
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