Manual Handling Operations - Risk Assessment Pro-Forma

This pro-forma is in two sections:

Section 1 – Risk Assessment Form
Section 2 – Summary of Assessment and Risk Reduction Action Plan

Instructions

In completing this assessment:

Make a RISK ASSESSMENT, with respect to manual handling injury, of each HAZARD identified.
Summarise the RISK ASSESSMENT for each of the four factors.
Conclude the overall RISK ASSESSMENT.
Propose RISK REDUCTION measures.

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Section 1: Risk Assessment Form

Manual Handling Operation: ___________________________

Department: ___________________________________________

Part 1: Describe the manual handling operation in detail

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Weight of Load in kg _________ No. staff involved ________

Handling aids used _________________________________________________

Work Area __________________________________________________________

Assessed by ________________ _________________

Date ___________

(Print name ) (Signature)

	1. The Task	Hazard Present		Risk Assessment
	1. Does the Task Involve:	Yes	No		High	Med	Low
	a) stooping over?
	b) twisting the waist?
	c) bending the body sideways?
	d) long periods of static effort?
	e) reaching above the shoulder?
	f) excessive lifting or lowering distances?
	g) generally having to make awkward movements?
	h) team handling?
	i) frequent physical effort?
	j) prolonged physical effort?
	2. Is the load handled, or the force applied, at a distance from the body?
	3. Is the load handled in such a way that it is necessary to:
	a) change grip?
	b) use jerky actions?
	c) apply high force levels?
	d) use one hand only?
	4. Could the load move unexpectedly?
	5. Could the feet slip?
	6. If pushing or pulling:	Yes	No		High	Med	Low
	a) is the item being handled above shoulder height or below the waist?
	b) is the distance of push or pull excessive?
	7. If carrying:	Yes	No		High	Med	Low
	a) is the distance excessive?
	b) does the load have to be handled up steps or slopes?
	8. Is the handling:	Yes	No		High	Med	Low
	a) repetitive?
	b) carried out more frequently than once per minute for heavy loads?
	9. Are there insufficient rest/recovery periods or changes of activity?
	10. Is the person(s) working under time constraints? (e.g. production targets, machine pacing)
1. OVERALL TASK ASSESSMENT		Yes	No		High	Med	Low
1. OVERALL TASK ASSESSMENT

It may help to consider the following questions in your risk assessment:

Has this manual handling operation resulted in:				YES		NO
noticeable trends in sickness absence related to manual handling?
manual handling accidents?
claims of injury?
2. The Load	Hazard Present		Risk Assessment
11. Is the Load:	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
a) heavy?
b) bulky and unwieldy?
c) difficult to grip firmly?
d) unstable?
e) likely to shift its centre of gravity?
f) too hot?
g) too cold?
h) likely to resist movement by friction?
i) likely to obscure the handler’s vision?
12. Does it have:	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
a) sharp edges etc.?
b) any other potentially damaging factors?
c) an offset centre of gravity?
13. Is the load moving?
14. Are handling instructions unclear?
2. OVERALL LOAD ASSESSMENT	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
2. OVERALL LOAD ASSESSMENT

3. The Working Environment	Hazard Present		Risk Assessment
	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
15. Are there space constraints preventing good posture?
16. Is it necessary to reach round or over obstacles?
17. Are there:	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
a) steps, slopes or uneven surfaces?
b) spillages?
c) rubbish and clutter?
d) obstacles in the route you will be taking?
18. Is the working environment:	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
a) too hot or too cold?
b) too humid?
c) poorly lit?
d) dusty, or similar, obscuring visibility?
e) too noisy?
f) vibrating?
g) dirty?
h) wet or windy?
3. OVERALL WORKING ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
3. OVERALL WORKING ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT

4. Individual	Hazard Present		Risk Assessment
19. Are workers who might carry out the operation:	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
a) less than 18 years?
b) greater than 55 years ?
20. Could the operation be harmful to those:	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
a) who are, or have recently been, pregnant?
b) with health problems that could affect their handling capability?
21. Does the operation require unusual strength, height etc.?
22. Is protective clothing or equipment poorly fitted?
23. Is posture or movement hindered by:	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
a) protective clothing and/or equipment?
b) clothing?
24. Is the state of adaptation due to shiftwork causing a risk of manual handling injury?
25. Does the operation require special knowledge or training for its safe completion?

4. OVERALL INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT	Yes	No	High	Med	Low
4. OVERALL INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Section 2: Assessment Summary & Risk Reduction
OVERALL RISK ASSESSMENT (This is an average of the four ‘overall’ assessments shown above)			High	Med	Low