Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided. You should consider the task, the load, the working environment and individual capability, for example:

• The postures adopted
• How far the load is lifted, lowered or carried
• The frequency of the task
• The weight of the load
• The nature of the load (for example hot, sharp or slippery)
•  Cramped work areas
•  Poor floor surfaces
•  Poor lighting, extremes of temperature
• Workers' strength, fitness and underlying medical conditions (for example a history of back problems)

Also, look out for:

• Workers breathing heavily and sweating
• Workers who complain of excessive fatigue
• Reluctance to do a particular task
• The availability of equipment to help with the lift