Manual Handling Hazards
(and how to avoid them)

Manual Handling Hazards & Risks
safetyliftinggear.com

We at safetyliftingear.com have been working in the lifting and handling industry since 1977. Manual handling means transporting or supporting a load by your own strength alone, and we’ve done our fair share of it.

As experts in our field, we don’t just supply load handling equipment - we understand all the ins and outs of manual handling and how to do it safely.

Before any manual handling task, it's important to assess the potential risks and how to deal with them. We're here to help you understand the hazards associated with manual handling... and how these hazards can be avoided by using the proper equipment.

What risks should I be aware of?

There are plenty of ways that even the simplest manual handling job can result in injury. If your work involves any of the following you may be at risk.

Heavy Lifting
Repetitive or sustained force/movement
Sustained awkward posture
Heavy and/or sudden force
Exposure to vibration

High-Risk industries

Manual handling injuries are more common in some industries than others. According to the HSE, the riskiest sectors are:

Construction
Agriculture
Transportation
Healthcare

How to minimise manual handling risks

If you want to learn how to avoid the most common manual handling hazards, you may wish to complete a manual handling training course that will teach you how carry out these tasks safely.

However, we can offer a few helpful tips - here are some things you should avoid doing where possible:

Attempting to lift objects that are too heavy and / or large to carry

Lifting and handling while in an awkward position

Trying to lift objects that are difficult to grip firmly

Working in poorly lit conditions

Lifting and handling in confined spaces

Carrying loads over unstable or uneven surfaces

Undertaking tasks that require sustained repetetive movement

What are my employer's responsibilities?

By law, employers must follow the Manual Handling Operations Regulations. This means taking the correct precautions to:

Avoid hazardous manual handling operations
Ensure that unavoidable tasks can be carried out as safely as possible
Eliminate the risk of injury where reasonably practical

If you are worried that your employer is putting your safety (or the safety of others) at risk, you should contact the Health & Safety Executive as soon as possible.

Employees have responsibilities too!

It’s not solely up to your employer to keep you and your colleagues safe. You should work with your employer to make everyone safer – in particular, you need to:

Follow the safety procedures set out for you
Use equipment properly
Tell your employer if you identify any hazards
Make sure you're not putting other people at risk

For more information, see the Health & Safety Executive’s guide to manual handling at work.

What happens when employers don't meet these responsibilities?

Wilko were fined £2.2 million when a cage full of paint tins fell on a worker, leaving her paralysed. She had been trying to move the cage over an uneven surface.

MAHLE Powertrain Ltd were fined more than £180,000 when several workers injured their backs lifting large car engine parts.

Dantech Engineering Ltd were fined £20,000 when a worker's fingers were crushed by a heavy metal frame that he and his colleagues had been attempting to lift

Stay safe by using the right equipment

Here at SafetyLiftingGear.com, we supply all kinds of material handling products that can be used instead of transporting loads manually. Regardless of what you need to move, we're sure to have the right equipment for the job.

Our extensive product range includes:

If you have any questions about how to stay safe while moving heavy loads, we are more than happy to help. Contact us today to learn more.