Full Manual Handling Risk Assessment

Pushing and pulling

This full manual handling risk assessment has been developed with reference to the HSE’s Guidance on the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (.pdf) and the HSE’s toolkits for musculoskeletal disorders.

It can be used in conjunction with the HSE toolkit and you can any necessary information to ensure adequate coverage of the risk factors. Otherwise, you can use this assessment as a standalone full risk assessment.

To get the most out of the assessment we recommend complete section 1, followed by the assessment that cover your type of manual handling activity.

Section 1: Individual capabilities and other factors

Section 2A: Pushing and pulling on wheeled equipment

Section 2B: Pushing and pulling without wheeled equipment

Section 3: Action

Remember

The purpose of the assessment is to identify the whether you have done enough to control the risk, and if not, what needs to be put in place to achieve that.

First of all…

Spend some time observing the task. Photographs or recording it may help. This ensures you have a reasonable idea of what is normally done and by whom.

Consider whether the task has lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or team lifting components to it. If it does, you will need to risk assess each part.

Speak to the people who do the task. They have a valuable insight into what it is like to do it and what the problems could be.

Look back at your incident records or speak to Health and Safety Advisory Service (HSAS) to find out what the issues could be and if there is industry good practice for your area of work.

Always assess the ‘worst case scenario’ – they pose the greatest risk of harm.

If it helps, use photos and drawings to record findings and include them in your risk assessment. They are a useful reference to compare the controls you put in place to reduce the risk.

Do read the information referenced in the Information Reference column. It will help you make an informed decision on the risk level.

Still unsure? Please call HSAS on ex. 2944 or email ‘safety’ for further advice and support.

Assessment reference
Overall risk of injury	LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH (highlight the appropriate risk category after completing the assessment)
Task name and description. Include the manual handling operations covered by this assessment
Location(s) it is carried out
Department responsible for the task
Job titles of staff involved
Name and signature of assessor (s)	Assessment date: Review date and reason:
Name and signature of the manager responsible for the task	Date:

Add diagrams/photos of existing control measures:

Risk evaluation

Green	Low Monitor activity.	Red	High Prompt action is required.
Amber	Medium Examine activity and reduce risk where possible	Purple	Very high Stop. Needs close scrutiny and action. Potentially a serious risk of injury

Section 1. Individual capabilities

Information reference	Detail	Green	Amber	Red	Purple	Problems occurring from the task and the risk level	Changes that need to be made to reduce the risk
Guidance on the MH Regulations Regulation 4(3)(e) employees especially at risk	High risk groups	Procedure for identifying high risk groups and individuals and individual risk assessments completed, where appropriate.	Individuals identified and actions taken but no documented evidence available.	Procedures for individual RAs but none completed. OR Action not implemented. OR Task requires unusual strength or height.	No procedures for identification of high risk groups and no individual RAs completed.
Section 4(3)(e)	Women of child bearing age	No women employed	Women Employed	This task is probably high risk for women who are or have recently been pregnant. Assess the risk as part of the pregnancy risk assessment. Guidance on the Pregnancy website
Section 4(3)(c)	Knowledge and training	Suitable manual handling information (eg Is your back safe?) and suitable departmental on-the-job training, including regular refreshers.	Suitable manual handling information and suitable departmental training. Some staff overdue refresher training.	Suitable manual handling information. No departmental on-the-job training or refresher	No information or training been provided. Operatives feel they have not been given enough training or information to carry out the task successfully.
Section 4(3)(b)	Clothing, footwear, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other personal effects	PPE is not required and footwear is suitable. OR Suitable PPE is provided and worn for the task. Movement or posture not hindered by clothing/PPE	Moderate restriction due to wearing PPE.	Restricted movement and dexterity due to wearing PPE. OR PPE provided but not worn.	PPE required but not provided.
Part 3 paragraphs 138-143	Work organisation (Psychosocial factors) Eg Rest breaks and rate of work imposed by process.	Staff fully consulted on work. Rest breaks scheduled and breaks taken. Job rotation. Good communication with managers and sudden changes in workload/new tasks well-managed	Staff occasionally consulted on work. Rest breaks scheduled but not always taken. Limited job rotation. Communication with managers. Changes in workload adequately managed.	No staff consultation. OR No rest breaks or job rotation OR Poor management communication. OR Frequent periods of high workload not managed. OR Tight deadlines

Section 2A. Pushing and pulling on wheeled equipment

This applies to moving loads on wheeled equipment such as hand trolleys, pump trucks, carts and wheelbarrows.

Information reference	Detail	Green	Amber	Red	Purple	Problems occurring from the task and the risk level	Changes that need to be made to reduce the risk
If you have already used the RAPP Tool you can use the information gathered as the basis of this full risk assessment
Part A1, page 4 -5 Equipment type and load	Small equipment with one or two wheels. The worker supports some of the load.	<50kg	50kg-100kg	100kg - 200kg >200kg (very high risk)	Unacceptable Load weight exceeds the equipment’s rated capacity (manufacture’s recommended maximum weight)
Medium sized equipment with three or more fixed wheels and/or castors.	<250kg	250kg-500kg	500kg-750kg >750kg (very high risk)
Large sized equipment, steerable or running on rails.	<600kg	600kg-1000kg	1000-1500kg > 1500kg (very high risk)
Other load and equipment risks	One handed operation	No	Occasionally	Frequently
Movement at high speed	No	Occasionally	Frequently
The force to get the load moving and keep in motion	Moves freely	Small amount	High amount
Sudden movement to start, stop or manoeuvre the load	No	Small amount	High amount
Part A2, page 5	Posture	Torso is largely upright AND Torso is not twisted AND hands are between hip and shoulder height.	Body inclined in direction of exertion OR Torso is noticeably bent or twisted OR Hands are below hip height	Body severely inclined, bent or twisted OR Workers squats, kneels or needs to push with their backs against load OR Hands are behind or on one side of the body or above shoulder height.
Part A3, page 6	Hand grip	There are handles or handhold areas which allow comfortable grip for pulling or full-hand contact for pushing.	There are handhold areas, but they only allow a partial grip, eg fingers clamped at 90°, or partial hand contact for pushing	There are no handles or the hand contact is uncomfortable
Part A4, page 7	Work pattern.	The work is not repetitive (fewer than five transfers per minute) AND The pace of work is set by the worker	The work is repetitive BUT There is opportunity for rest or recovery through formal and informal breaks or job rotation	The work is repetitive AND No formal/ informal breaks or job rotation opportunities are provided
Part A5, page 6	Travel distance from start to finish for a single trip. If the operation is not repetitive, do an assessment for the longest trip. If the operation is repetitive, determine the average distance for at least five trips.	>10m	10m-30m	>30m
Part A6, page 6 Lifting equipment on wheels /castors	Condition of the equipment.	Evidence of inspections. Equipment is in good state or repair. Maintenance is planned and carried out.	No evidence of inspections. OR Maintenance occurs only as problems arise. OR Equipment is in reasonable state of repair	No evidence of inspections. OR Maintenance is not planned (there is no clear system) OR Equipment is in a poor state of repair
Suitable for the type of load	Suitable	Poor	Unsuitable
Robust for the task required	In good condition and robust	-	Easily damaged or defective
Suitable for the floor surface or work environment	Suitable	Poor	Unsuitable
Easy to steer	Good	Poor	Difficult
Part A7, page 7	Brakes	Brakes not required. OR Easy to stop OR In good condition, operating effectively.	Difficult to stop OR Brakes are poor and ineffective	Brakes are not suitable, broken. OR Requires brakes but not provided
Part A7, page 7	Floor surface	Dry, clean, level, firm and in good condition	Mostly dry and clean (damp or debris in some areas) OR Sloping (gradient is between 3° and 5°) OR Reasonably firm underfoot (eg carpet) OR Poor condition (minor damage)	Contaminated (wet or debris in several areas), or Steep slope (gradient is more than 5°), or Soft or unstable underfoot (gravel, sand, mud), or Very poor condition (severe damage)
Part A8, page 7	Obstacles along the route. Eg trailing cables, raised edges, up or down steep ramps or steps, through narrow or closed doors, screens or confined spaces, bends corners or objects	No obstacles	One type of obstacle but no steps or steep ramps	Steps, steep ramps or two or more other types of obstacles.
Part A9, page 7	Other factors. Eg Equipment or load unstable/ unpredictable Load is large an obstructs view Load is sharp, hot or damaging to touch Poor lighting Extreme hot or cold temperatures or high humidity Gusts and strong air movements PPE or clothing makes it difficult	No other factors	One factor	Two or more factors

Section 2B. Pushing and pulling.

This applies to moving loads without wheels.

Information reference	Detail	Green	Amber	Red	Purple	Problems occurring from the task and the risk level	Changes that need to be made to reduce the risk
If you have already used the RAPP Tool you can use the information gathered as the basis of this full risk assessment
Part B1, page 10 Load and type of movement	rolling	<400kg	400kg-600kg	600kg - 1000kg	>1000kg (very high risk)
Churning (loads are moved by pivoting and rolling along the base edges)	<80kg	80kg-120kg	120kg-150kg	>150kg (very high risk)
Dragging and hauling or sliding	<25kg	25kg-50kg	50-80kg	> 80kg (very high risk)
Part B2, page 11	Posture	Torso is largely upright AND Torso is not twisted AND hands are between hip and shoulder height.	Body inclined in direction of exertion OR Torso is noticeably bent or twisted OR Hands are below hip height	Body severely inclined, bent or twisted OR Workers squats, kneels or needs to push with their backs against load OR Hands are behind or on one side of the body or above shoulder height.
Part B3, page 11	Hand grip	There are handles or handhold areas which allow comfortable grip for pulling or full-hand contact for pushing.	There are handhold areas, but they only allow a partial grip, eg fingers clamped at 90°, or partial hand contact for pushing	There are no handles or the hand contact is uncomfortable
Part B4, page 12	Work pattern.	The work is not repetitive (fewer than five transfers per minute) AND The pace of work is set by the worker	The work is repetitive BUT There is opportunity for rest or recovery through formal and informal breaks or job rotation	The work is repetitive AND No formal/ informal breaks or job rotation opportunities are provided
Part B5, page 12	Travel distance from start to finish for a single trip. If the operation is not repetitive, do an assessment for the longest trip. If the operation is repetitive, determine the average distance for at least five trips.	>2m	2m-10m	>10m
Part B6 page 12	Floor surface	Dry, clean, level, firm and in good condition	Mostly dry and clean (damp or debris in some areas) OR Sloping (gradient is between 3° and 5°) OR Reasonably firm underfoot (eg carpet) OR Poor condition (minor damage)	Contaminated (wet or debris in several areas), or Steep slope (gradient is more than 5°), or Soft or unstable underfoot (gravel, sand, mud), or Very poor condition (severe damage)
Part B7, page 12	Obstacles along the route. Eg trailing cables, raised edges, up or down steep ramps or steps, through narrow or closed doors, screens or confined spaces, bends corners or objects	No obstacles	One type of obstacle but no steps or steep ramps	Steps, steep ramps or two or more other types of obstacles.
Part B8, page 12	Other factors. Eg Equipment or load unstable/ unpredictable Load is large an obstructs view Load is sharp, hot or damaging to touch Poor lighting Extreme hot or cold temperatures or high humidity Gusts and strong air movements PPE or clothing makes it difficult	No other factors	One factor	Two or more factors

Section 3. Action required

Action No.	Actions required to reduce the level of risk	Priority	Date action required by	Who is responsible for ensuring the action has taken	Completion date and signature

Add more rows if necessary.

The term department should be understood to include school, section or unit.

If the task is carried out by others eg students, contractors etc. please include here

Insert information about your manual handling activity in this column.

High risk groups are or have been recently pregnant; known to have a history of back, knee or hip trouble, hernia or other health problems which could affect their capability; have a disability which may affect their manual handling capability; previously had a manual handling injury or are young workers <18 years of age.