Reviewed by: Sarah Cokayne and Shakera Rahman , Resources Committee 28th February 2022

Next Review: Spring 2024

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INTRODUCTION

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, introduced to ensure that employers took steps to reduce the risks of manual handling injuries, require that hazardous manual handling is avoided whenever it is reasonably practicable to do so. Where this is not possible, the Regulations require a process of risk assessment and the introduction of measures to reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level which is reasonably practicable.

The school recognises that work related musculoskeletal injuries from manual handling can affect all staff. It will take all reasonable steps to reduce, and will have the aim of eliminating, these injuries and will make diligent attempts to avoid putting staff at risk.

Work activities which involve hazardous manual handling will have been identified by the procedures involved in hazard identification and risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992. These activities include such operations as the lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, supporting, carrying and moving of loads by hand or by bodily force. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 apply to these activities.

DUTIES OF RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

To secure the health and safety of workers with regard to manual handling operations, the Safety Officer will ensure that:

Manual handling operations which present a risk of injury are identified:

• Handling operations which present a risk of injury are avoided, so far as is reasonably practicable, by eliminating the need for the load to be moved or by the introduction of automation or mechanisation:

• Those operations which cannot be avoided are assessed using an ergonomic approach which considers the task, the load, the environment and individual capability to determine the level of risk. The assessment should be recorded to show that it has taken place and to allow for easy review if circumstances change:

• Measures required to eliminate the risk, or reduce it to the lowest level which is reasonably practicable, are identified from the information in the risk assessment and are used to implement a safe system of work:

• All new work which might involve manual handling operations is assessed and safe systems of work are implemented before the work commences :

• Annual reviews of assessments are made to ensure that they are still valid but re-assessment is carried out immediately if any of the components of the work situation have changed:

• Incidents which result in musculoskeletal injury to staff are fully investigated and risk assessments and systems of work are reviewed in the light of such incidents:

• Staff recruited to posts involving manual handling are suitable for the work they are required to undertake, that job descriptions sent to applicants for employment include details of manual handling tasks where these are part of requirement of the post, that staff in post continue to be suitable for the work and that staff are not pressurised by supervisors or systems of work into undertaking operations (either by weight or rate of work) which are beyond their safe capability:

• Suitable information, training and supervision is provided for all employees engaged in manual handling tasks and that such training is recorded, monitored, evaluated and reviewed: 

• Sufficient information about loads and environment is given to other employers who have control of workers on the school site and to self-employed contractors which will enable them to meet their responsibilities under the Regulations:

• Premises outside the school site at which employees may have to perform manual handling operations are safe and free from risk so far as is reasonably practicable:

• Any specific arrangements for complying with the Regulations which are introduced are documented and incorporated into the local safety policy. 

DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES

• The co-operation of employees is essential in reducing and eliminating the risks from manual handling. Staff should therefore ensure that they comply with the following requirements:

• They should follow the safe system of work designed and introduced by the management and should not deviate from this without good reason:

• They should use any mechanical aids which have been provided for their use and for which they have been trained. Any faults with mechanical aids should be immediately reported to the manager/supervisor:

• They should assist and cooperate with the process of the assessment of risk:

• They should assist the manager with the implementation of staff training, should attend training sessions as required and should apply the knowledge gained from training to their daily work:

• They should report all accidents and occurrences which either caused, or could have caused, injury:

• They should inform the manager/supervisor if they are unable to undertake their normal manual handling duties because of injury, illness or any other condition:

• They should not undertake any manual handling operation which they believe is beyond their capability:

• They should report any unsafe systems of work to the manager/supervisor