The document provides guidance on manual handling regulations and safe manual handling practices. It discusses an employer's duties to avoid hazardous manual handling, assess risks, and reduce risks. It then provides specific guidelines for safe manual handling, including thinking before lifting, using lifting aids, keeping loads close to the body, maintaining stable posture, getting a good grip, lifting smoothly, not overexerting, and putting loads down to adjust them.

1. Manual Handling GROUND LEVEL: KITCHEN PURPLE
Manual Manual Handling at Work Regulations 1992 ZONE 5
Handling
at What are my duties?
Work The Regulations require employers to:
Regulations  avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably
1992 practicable;
 assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be
avoided; and
 reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, so far as is
reasonably practicable.
Think before lifting/handling. Plan the lift.
Can handling aids be used? Where is the load going to be placed? Will help be needed
with the load? Remove obstructions such as discarded wrapping materials. For a long lift,
consider resting the load midway on a table or bench to change grip.
 Keep the load close to the waist. Keep the load close to the body for as long as
possible while lifting. Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body. If a
close approach to the load is not possible, try to slide it towards the body before
attempting to lift it.
 Adopt a stable position. The feet should be apart with one leg slightly forward to
maintain balance (alongside the load, if it is on the ground). The worker should
be prepared to move their feet during the lift to maintain their stability. Avoid tight
clothing or unsuitable footwear, which may make this difficult.
 Get a good hold. Where possible the load should be hugged as close as possible
FIRE EQUIPMENT ESCAPE ROUTES SIGNS & SIGNAGE
to the body. This may be better than gripping it tightly with hands only.
 Start in a good posture. At the start of the lift, slight bending of the back, hips and
knees is preferable to fully flexing the back (stooping) or fully flexing the hips and
knees (squatting).
 Don’t flex the back any further while lifting. This can happen if the legs begin to
straighten before starting to raise the load.
Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways, especially while the back is bent.
Shoulders should be kept level and facing in the same direction as the hips. Turning by
moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time.
 Keep the head up when handling. Look ahead, not down at the load, once it has
PEOPLE EQUIPMENT MATERIALS
been held securely.
 Move smoothly. The load should not be jerked or snatched as this can make it
harder to keep control and can increase the risk of injury.
 Don’t lift or handle more than can be easily managed. There is a difference
between what people can lift and what they can safely lift. If in doubt, seek advice
or get help.
 Put down, then adjust. If precise positioning of the load is necessary, put it down
first, then slide it into the desired position.
Remember COSHH, Manual Handling and PAT Testing
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2. CHEMICAL SAFETY GROUND LEVEL – PUBLIC AREA BLACK
On back of 20 - 25
COSHH ZONE 3
REGULATIONS
2002 COSHH REGULATIONS 2002
COSHH
GROUND LEVEL COSHH RISK ASSESSMENT
Hazardous substances include:
 substances used directly in work activities (eg adhesives, paints, cleaning
agents);
 substances generated during work activities (eg fumes from soldering and
welding);
 naturally occurring substances (eg grain dust);
 biological agents such as bacteria and other micro - organisms .
COSHH ESSENTIALS
Easy steps to control health risks from chemicals
About COSHH Essentials
COSHH Essentials has been developed to help firms comply with the Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). COSHH requires employers to:
FIRE EQUIPMENT ESCAPE ROUTES SIGNS & SIGNAGE
• assess the risks to health from chemicals and decide what controls are needed;
• use those controls and make sure workers use them;
• make sure the controls are working properly;
• inform workers about the risks to their health;
• HAZARD WARNING SIGNS
train workers.
PEOPLE EQUIPMENT MATERIALS
CHECK ACCESSES AND EGRESSES REGULARLY
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