3.3 Manual Handling

Question 1

What is being described below :

“any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or by bodily force.”

Answer 1

A manual handling operation

Question 2

Does lifting a control lever on a machine come under the definition of manual handling?

Answer 2

No.

Effort applied for purposes other than transporting or supporting a
load does not constitute a manual handling operation.

Question 3

Does an implement, tool or machine, such as a chainsaw or fire hose come under the definition of a ‘load’ when in use for its intended purpose?

Answer 3

No.

A load must be a discrete movable object (includes people and animals). An implement,
tool or machine, such as a chainsaw or fire hose is not a load when in use for its intended purpose.

Question 4

What are the steps an employer has to take to comply with the Manual Handling Regs?

Answer 4

Avoid
Assess
Reduce
Inform

Question 5

There is a useful acronym to help remember the factors to consider when carrying out a manual handling risk assessment. What is it?

Answer 5

TILE

T - Task
I - Individual
L - Load
E - Environment

POLITE could also be used, which adds:

O - Organisational factors
P - PPE

Question 6

Effective training will complement a safe system of work, and has an important part to
play in reducing the risk of manual handling injury.

Training should cover:

Answer 6

Risk factors

Handling technique

Systems of work

Mechanical aids