TABLE OF CONTENTS Until a few years ago, accidents caused by the manual handling of loads were the largest single cause of over three-day accidents reported to the HSE. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 recognized this fact and helped to reduce the number of these accidents. However, accidents due to poor manual handling technique still accounts for over 25% of all reported accidents and in some occupational sectors, such as the health service, the figure rises above 50%. An understanding of the factors causing some of these accidents is essential if they are to be further reduced. Mechanical handling methods should always be used whenever possible, but they are not without their hazards, many of which have been outlined in Chapter 7. Much mechanical handling involves the use of lifting equipment, such as cranes and lifts which present specific hazards to both the users and bystanders. The risks from these hazards are reduced by thorough examinations and inspections as required by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).
The term manual handling is defined as the movement of a load by human effort alone. This effort may be applied directly or indirectly using a rope or a lever. Manual handling may involve the transportation of the load or the direct support of the load including pushing, pulling, carrying, moving using bodily force and, of course, straightforward lifting. Back injuries due...
