As an employer, Somerset Council is responsible, as far as is reasonably practicable to ensure that Manual Handling is carried out safely and in a manner that reduces the risk of injury. A key element to protecting employees and volunteers that undertake manual handling activities is that they receive appropriate training and guidance to complete manual handling tasks in a safe manner.
Key messages:
- Adopting good manual handling techniques and an ergonomic approach to lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, and pulling helps to reduce the risk of injury.
- All SC employees and volunteers undertaking manual handling activities have received suitable and sufficient manual handling training.
- A suitable and sufficient risk assessment is completed by managers and staff when engaging in manual handling activities. A manual handling risk assessment may be completed either in a dynamic, generic, or specific manner, depending on the significance of the manual handling task. However, completion of a manual handling risk assessment is required to help identify the key risks, but to note control measures to help minimise the risk of injury where tasks are undertaken which are beyond an individuals’ capability or where training and guidance has not been provided.
Manual Handling (Objects) training can be found on the Blackboard platform and the Health & Safety Service can deliver a face to face course at your school, email: training@somerset.gov.uk for more information.
The Access and Assistive Technology Team provides moving and handling training for young people.
Our Manual Handling Guidance explains a simple mechanism by which the manual handling task can be assessed for potential risk of
injury through the TILE(O) process:
| Task | · Does the task involve unnatural body movements such as twisting or stooping?
· Is the task repetitive or require transport over long distances? · Does the task require two or more people? |
| Individual | · Is the individual fit with a good understanding of the required manual handling task?
· Have they been trained (including the use of aids if required)? · Do they have any conditions or injuries that may limit their ability to complete the task e.g. pregnancy, injury, an enthusiastic young person with little or no training? |
| Load | · Is the load heavy, difficult to grip, sharp, hot, cold, or awkward to carry?
· Is it a load that becomes heavier through repetitive actions? |
| Environment | · Are there environmental considerations such as confined spaces or tasks required under hot or cold conditions?
· Will the objects be transported across different floor surfaces, up or down stairs, or outside where conditions may be wet, slippery, or icy? |
| Other | · Other considerations should be given too, such as wearing suitable clothes and footwear so that it does not limit or impede posture or movement during the activity.
· Individuals may be wearing PPE which may limit or impede movement. · Do the objects require cleaning before handling? |
If the initial TILE(O) assessment is applied and there are significant concerns, a detailed risk assessment is required to record any specific techniques or aids designed to help complete the manual handling task. This can be recorded using a template on EEC or via completion of the F26a Manual Handling Assessment.
Learn more:
Manual Handling Policy
Manual Handling Guidance
EEC Risk Assessments
HSE: Making the best use of lifting and handling aids – A brief guide
