Manual handling in the docks industry

There were 53 major injuries caused by manual handling activities in docks in the last 3 years and 483 injuries that resulted in the worker being off work for more than 3 days.

Measures to reduce risks;

• Use the free HSE Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC) [PDF 460KB], to identify the tasks which present the greatest risk
• Ask employees about what they consider to be the most hazardous lifting and moving jobs
• Consider whether high hazard manual lifting and moving jobs can be avoided, for example by palletising heavy or bulky products
• Consider whether a load can be changed to make it easier to carry, for example, smaller packages, providing handles or hand-holds
• Consider the use of mechanical aids, such as motorised winches for hauling mooring ropes of large ships, vehicle mounted hydraulic hoists, portable roller conveyors, pallet trucks, scissor lifts and customised trolleys. These can save a lot of time and money, as well as saving backs.

For practical guidance on how to make lifting and handling tasks easier, you can download the free guide Are you making the best use and lifting handling aids [PDF 451KB].

Details of further HSE publications can be found in the guidance and research pages of HSE musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) website.