Healthy Handling 2005: Lifting and carrying
Manual handling of materials and equipment can cause back injury and
muscle strain;
Consider
- mechanising the task
- use of lifting aids
- assessment of the task, individual, load and environment
- training requirements
- specification of lighter components
Lifting and carrying
Manual handling can cause serious, long-term disabling musculo-skeletal
injuries. Heavy blocks, kerbs, cills and lintels present a particularly
high risk
HSE Inspectors will expect to find:
- manual handling tasks eliminated by design or mechanisation where
practicable;
- safe handling based on assessment of risk from manual handling operations;
- all workers trained in basic safe manual handling techniques.
Top tips
- Design-in safe lifting points for lintels and cills and identify the
weight of all items to be manually handled, using lighter components where
practicable
- Use mechanical means to deliver materials to the point of use
- Organise scaffolding to make block laying easier, for example by providing
tables or half lifts to minimise bending and twisting
- Use mechanical placement aids, e.g. vacuum lifts for kerbs and slabs
Are you making the best of lifting and handling aids
Manual handling assessment charts
Manual handling at work: A brief guide
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