Guidance launch aims to reduce manual handling in kerb laying

HSE Press Release: E032:05 - 2 March 2005

New guidance “Handling kerbs: Reducing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)” is launched today by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The information sheet, developed in consultation with the ‘Kerbs Forum’, gives advice on controlling the risks associated with the manual handling of kerbs, aiming to secure greater compliance with duties under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.

Over the last 18 months HSE has been working through the ‘Kerbs Forum’ to secure increased use of mechanical handling devices such as vacuum lifters and grabs during kerb laying. The forum was established by HSE, working with the Construction Confederation. It has over 80 members, including kerb manufacturers, contractors and local authorities.

In December 2003 the Kerbs Forum agreed transitional timeframes during which the change from manual to mechanically assisted kerb handling would take place. For newbuild projects, the industry was given until June 2004 to make the change to mechanically assisted kerb laying. For spot kerbing or kerb maintenance work, the industry was given until the end of January 2005 to move to mechanically assisted kerb laying.

Traditionally kerbs were laid by hand; the weight of the kerbs, the posture adopted when handling and the repetitive nature of the work create excessive strain on the body. This may cause damage to muscles and tendons, which in the longer term may lead progressively to more serious injury. These injuries are commonly referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Mechanical solutions reduce the risks associated with traditional practices.

Richard Boland from the HSE’s Construction Sector said:

This guidance is the result of working in partnership between ourselves and those involved in the kerb supply chain. The project has been a success and we are now close to our goal, to make mechanical handling of heavy kerb products the industry norm.’

Andy Sneddon from the Construction Confederation said:

“Handling kerbs is typical of the difficult issues that our industry must tackle if we are to have an impact on work related ill-health. Within a goal-setting legislative framework, there will always be a need for credible guidance on what needs to be done; I am pleased to see HSE working in close collaboration with the industry to map out a practical framework for handling kerbs. This is a useful marriage of the common-sense that can come from industry, self-regulation, and the authority that HSE can bring to any guidance”.

Interpave Chairman Mark McColl added:

“We have been closely involved with the ‘Kerbs Forum’ since it was convened and welcomed working in partnership with HSE to develop consistent guidelines on this important issue. MSDs account for over a third of all injuries in construction and are a major reason for workers leaving the industry.

“Interpave welcomes the new information sheet which provides guidance for a wide range of duty holders on what they can do to promote and facilitate mechanical solutions and gives details on the range of plant and equipment available to control the MSD risks. We are confident that adherence to the guidelines will ensure that the handling of pre-cast kerbs in construction projects is undertaken in a safe manner.”

Alan Muddiman, Director Health, Safety and Environmental Services, Mowlem Plc and Chairman - CECA Health & Safety Committee said:

"The industry has responded well to this issue and manual handling of kerbs is well on its way to being eliminated, but there are areas of difficulty needing resolution. The ‘Kerbs Forum’ and production of the guidance has been a prime example showing how co-operation between all parties concerned can produce real results within a complex issue."

Notes to editors

1. See press release E103:04 – HSE Kerbs Forum – Progress Meeting in London.

2. During March 2005 HSE will be carrying out a nationwide blitz of construction sites across Great Britain to tackle serious work-related ill health. During Healthy Handling 2005 HSE inspectors will focus on reducing risk from manual handling, dermatitis, cement burns, excessive noise, and hand arm vibration. See press release E026:05

3. Regulation 4 of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 states:

(1) Each employer shall:
(a) so far as is reasonably practicable, avoid the need for his employees to undertake any manual handling operations at work which involve a risk of their being injured.
(b) where it is not reasonably practicable to avoid the need for his employees to undertake any manual handling operations at work which involve a risk of their being injured-
(i) make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of all such manual handling operations to be undertaken by them…..
(ii) take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injury to those employees arising out of their undertaking any such manual handling operations to the lowest level reasonably practicable, …….

4. Statistics for manual handling in construction show that around 90,000 workers suffered musculoskeletal injuries during 2000/01, which is double the all-industry average. A typical kerbstone weighs around 67kg (c. the weight of the average man) until now kerbs have been manually handled at least three times from arrival on site to their final positioning.

5. The guidance sheet is entitled: Handling kerbs: Reducing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Construction Information Sheet No 57. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis57.pdf

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