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