More than a third of all reportable injuries of over three days involve manual handling, and around 10% of major injuries are linked to manual handling. It has a major impact on all workplaces, and costs the economy hundreds of millions of pounds every year.

In the UK, 1.1m people reported that they suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused, or made worse, by work. It is estimated 12.3m working days are lost annually due to work-related MSDs.

Anyone involved in the moving and handling of goods and people could be at risk. Injuries and suffering can be linked to any work involving handling of loads. There are risks in handling even light loads if a repetitive task is being carried out in poor conditions. Poor ergonomics and workplace layout are a factor in many hazardous manual handling tasks.

Risks can be found in all work sectors, but healthcare, agriculture and construction are recognised as high-risk industries due to the number and nature of the manual handling activities.

Legal duties and obligations around manual handling

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations

These Regulations state that employers should adopt a hierarchy of control measures:

1. To avoid hazardous Manual Handling Operations so far as is reasonably practicable
2. To assess any hazardous Manual Handling Operation that cannot be avoided
3. To reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable.

Premier Risk Services will come to your premises at your request and assess your whole business performance in manual handling. This may include individual assessments, advice, lifting equipment and training of employees as required.