Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 as amended 2002 an employer must avoid the need for hazardous manual handling operations so far as reasonably practicable.

Up to a third of all accidents at work arise from manual handling. Hands and feet are often bruised, cut or broken but the part of the body most frequently injured is the back. To prevent these injuries we have to learn to guard against the unexpected and to do away with needless effort which, if it does not cause an obvious injury, leads to unnecessary wear and tear on the back.

Poor manual handling invariably leads to injuries or musculoskeletal disorders. Everybody should be taught how to avoid such injuries and how to do away with unnecessary effort and physical stress at work whether it is a handling stress or a postural stress which may lead to a stiff and aching back.

As an employer your aim must be to, wherever reasonably practicable, reduce the need for manual handling in the workplace, either by eliminating such tasks completely, or by use of work equipment such as conveyors or fork-lift trucks. Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the manual task, there is a requirement to assess the manual handling activity and develop systems of work that lead to risk reduction.

Further guidance and associated documents follow ...