Task(21567)
Task
This involves looking at the manual handling task itself and assessing how it will effect the health and safety of the individual carrying out the task.
Is there a risk of injury to the individual or to anyone else? If so, how can it be managed?
Assess
Does the task include:
- Holding loads away from the body?
- Twisting, stooping or reaching upwards?
- Large vertical movements?
- Long carrying distances?
- Strenuous pushing or pulling?
- Repetitive handling?
- A work rate imposed by a process?
- Insufficient rest or recovery time?
Solutions
Possible solutions include:
- Using a lifting aid
- Improving the layout of the workplace to avoid or reduce physical movements required to fulfil the task
- Modifying the workplace to reduce carrying distances
- Varying the work to allow one set of muscles to rest while another is used
- Pushing rather than pulling
- Changing the work routine to avoid excessive work rates and tight deadlines
- Varying the work to allow one set of muscles to rest while another is used