What does the law say? (21467)

2026 – Manual Handling (Level 2) 2026 LIVE What does the law say? (21467)

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers are required to assess any risks to the health and safety of their workers.

If the assessment identifies that workers are required to carry out hazardous manual handling or moving of objects, people or animals, employers should comply with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR) 1992 and subsequent 2002 amendments.

The best way to minimise workplace injuries and lost working days is by ensuring that employers and employees work together to follow the regulations.

Workers and their representatives know first-hand the risks in their workplace and can often suggest practical solutions to control them.

Employer Duties

Employers have specific obligations when it comes to manual handling. These include:

Taking measures to avoid the need for hazardous manual handling tasks 'so far as reasonably practicable'*.
Conducting a risk assessment to evaluate the potential for injury in cases where hazardous manual handling cannot be avoided
Implementing appropriate measures to reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling to as low as reasonably practicable

* This means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the real risk in terms of money, time or trouble. You do not need to take action if it would be grossly disproportionate to the level of risk.

Employee Duties

Employees have certain responsibilities too. These include:

Following safe systems established by their employer.
Correctly using any equipment provided to ensure their health and safety.
Cooperating with their employer on health and safety matters
Informing their employer if things change or they identify any hazardous handling activities
Taking care to prevent their actions from putting others at risk

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