Manual handling

This talk is about moving things by hand on this site. Manual handling, in HSE's words, means transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. It includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying, or moving loads. A load can be an object, a person, or an animal. On our jobs it is usually boards, bags, a boiler, a length of timber, or a skip that should have been moved with a barrow.

HSE's page is written for employers. It says you must protect workers from the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling. The law sets out three steps. Avoid hazardous manual handling, so far as reasonably practicable. Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that cannot be avoided. Reduce the risk of injury to as low as reasonably practicable. The weight of a load is important. The law does not set specific weight limits. Do not let anyone on this site invent a kilogram figure and call it the legal maximum. There isn't one on that page.

In some cases you must provide information about the weight, and the position of the centre of gravity, of each load, if there is a risk of injury and it is reasonably practicable to do this. If the bag or the board has the weight on it, read it out before someone picks it up. If it does not, say that we do not know, and treat that as a reason to be careful, not as a reason to guess.

Good handling technique is not a substitute for the other steps. HSE says that plainly. Lifting aids, a lighter load, a shorter carry, a clear route, and a second person come first. The technique is an addition to those measures, not a replacement.

When a lift still has to be done by hand, HSE describes a basic lift with both hands, the load in front of the body and close to it, without twisting. Think before you lift. Where is it going? Can a handling aid do it? Do you need help? Clear the wrapping and the offcuts. For a long lift, from the floor to shoulder height, think about resting it mid-way so you can change your grip.

Keep the load close to your waist for as long as possible. Keep the heaviest side next to your body. If you cannot get close, slide it towards you before you try to lift it. Feet apart, one leg in front of the other, so you can move your feet during the lift. Hug the load close. A slight bend of the back, hips, and knees at the start is preferable to stooping, or to a full deep squat. Do not flex your back any further while lifting. That happens if the legs straighten before the load starts to rise. Do not twist or lean sideways, especially while the back is bent. Turn by moving your feet. Keep your head up and look ahead once the load is secure. Move smoothly. Do not jerk. Do not lift more than you can easily manage. HSE says there is a difference between what people are able to lift and what they can safely lift. If in doubt, get help. If you need to position it precisely, put it down, then slide it.

If the route is wet, dark, or blocked, that is part of the risk, not a reason to hurry. The slips talk covers the floor. This talk covers the load. If today's method says two people, it stays two people.