What is the law on manual handling?
Your employer has a legal obligation under the Maual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) to make sufficient and suitable risk assessment to identify the possibility of risk to employees from the manual handling of loads. There is no maximum weight but each situation has to be assessed based on factors such as the capability of the individual, the characteristics of the load, the physical effort required, the work environment and the type or frequency of the activity. This is a legal requirement and the regulations should be complied with. Training should be given to staff to enable them to carry out their tasks effectively and without injury. Training may need to be repeated from time to time, this will depend on the tasks undertaken but will be at intervals not more than every three years. Courses provided should both give instruction and practical training.
