HSE updates manual handling at work guidance
The Health and Safety (HSE) has revised its manual handling at work guidance document; INDG143
Most, if not all organisations should be familiar with their duties under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, or the Manual Handling Operations (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1992. If you are unfamiliar with the above Regulations, you may want to re-familiarise yourself or review any actions that you may have.
This updated manual handling guidance now brings the risk assessment process in line with the Appendix contained in L23: Guidance on Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. This is to help identify low-risk tasks and includes:
- More information on the simple risk filters for lifting, lowering and carrying operations
- detailed information including an illustration can be found on page 6-8
- Simplified advice on pushing and pulling with new simple illustrations
- detailed information can be found on page 9
- A simple filter for handling while seated
- detailed information including an illustration can be found on page 10
Although additional information is included, the section on good handling techniques from the previous revision is removed and placed here via HSE’s website instead. Interestingly, the illustrations used to demonstrate good handling techniques for lifting are no longer included, but the text remains the same.
If you would like to view the images for good handling techniques, this can be found on pages 5-7 of the previous guidance document here.
Please note: The most up-to-date version of the manual handling at work guidance document should be used, this can be found here. Only use the previous version if you require illustrations on how to perform good handling techniques.
Following the publication of the revised guidance, it is important to note that there are no changes to the Regulations or policy.