General Problems and Solutions Manual handling hazards are covered by the general duty provisions in the Occupational Safety and Health Act . Specific requirements for hazard identification, risk assessment and control are established by Regulation 3.4 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 . The Code of Practice for Manual Handling provides practical guidance on the identification, assessment and control of risks associated with manual handling at work. It is important to consult with employees performing the tasks as they are likely to be aware of the risk of manual handling injuries which may be associated with their jobs. Manual handling tasks likely to be a risk to workers' safety and health should be identified and assessed in detail to determine the nature and the extent of the problems.
Risk control means finding solutions to the problems.
The following general problems and suggested solutions are examples of how manual handling injuries may be reduced. Items are stored above shoulder level. Items are lifted from below mid-thigh height. Items are too heavy when other risk factors, such as the number of times the items are moved or the distance moved, are taken into account. The weight of items is unknown and they are heavier than expected for their size or shape.