Manual Handling - Guidance on Weights

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992), places duties upon the employer to assess the risks to employees from manual handling and establish a clear hierarchy of control measures -

• Avoid hazardous manual handling operations where possible;
  
• Assess any manual handling operation, which cannot be avoided;
  
• Reduce the risk of injury as far as practical.

The best possible method for avoidance of manual handling is the use of either automation or mechanisation. Obviously this is not always possible and most GMB members have a problem over maximum weight limits. The Regulations set no specific requirements on weight limits.

However the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have recently updated the regulations and produced a Risk Assessment filter, which should screen out straightforward cases, which should only leave a minority of situations where a more detailed assessment is needed.

The application of the guidelines will provide a reasonable level of protection to around 95% of working men and women. However, the guidelines should not be regarded as safe weight limits for lifting. There is no threshold below which, manual-handling operatives should be regarded as safe. Even with the guidance, if it is possible to make the transportation tasks less demanding then this should be done.

Produced by the GMB, London Region,
Thorne House, 152 Brent Street, Hendon. NW4 2DP
Tel: 020 8202 8272
Fax: 020 8202 2893