Assess the Risks (21563)

If it is not possible to avoid a hazardous manual handling operation, you need to assess the risks and decide how they can be reduced 'so far as is reasonably practicable' 

The acronym TILE-O is sometimes used to help remember the different types of risk:

- Task

- Individual

- Load

- Environment

- Other factors

We will look at each of these in more detail in the next few lessons.

The HSE recommends using a checklist and diagrams to help you examine all possible risks. You can access examples of assessment checklists here Click to view Examples of assessment checklists

 The HSE also provides manual handling assessment charts (the MAC tool) for identifying high-risk workplace manual handling activities. Click to view the MAC tool

Reasonably Practicable

Under the manual handling regulations employers are required to 'reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable.'

This means balancing the level of risk of injury against the measures needed to control the risk in terms of money, time or trouble. 

Let's take the example of a small business where workers have to lift 2 heavy boxes into a truck once a day.

One option to prevent the risk of injury would be to invest in expensive machinery, which the business cannot afford. This option is not reasonably practicable.

Alternatively, a more cost effective solution would be to assign two individuals to work as a team to lift each box into the truck. This approach would help distribute the load and reduce the risk involved in the manual handling operation.