A Guide To Manual Handling Risk Assessments
                     
                                     



 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Guide to Manual 

Handling Risk 

Assessments 


 
    olivesafety.ie                                                                                         +353 014111011 

 

Manual handling of loads without 

proper training can cause serious 

injuries at the workplace. Manual 

Handling task can be defined as 

transporting or supporting of a 

load by following practices like 

lifting, putting down, pushing, 

pulling, carrying or moving by 

hand or restrain any person, animal or thing involving one or more of the 

following repetitive or sustained force. Manual handling injuries are part 

of a wider group of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).  

 

Risk at Work - Manual handling 

 

● As per the recent reports the manual handling causes over a third 

of all workplace injuries.  

● Take a proper training in manual handling to avoid workplace 

injuries.  

● Understand the size of the load and the path that you have to take 

this load before doing the task.  

● Think before lifting/handling the load.  

● Adopt a stable position to lift properly.  

● Get a good hold on the load.  

● Start in a good posture. 

 

The important guidelines for risk assessment in manual handling: 

 

● The maximum weight a person should lift is 25kg.  

● Management’s Responsibility is to make sure all the employees 

have a certified course in manual handling.  

● Employees / Volunteers Responsibility is vital in the workplace to 

avoid injuries. 

● Basic Manual Handling Guidelines and awareness training. 

includes: 

 Plan how to lift the load  

 Find Best Way of Lifting the loads. 


 
    olivesafety.ie                                                                                         +353 014111011 

 

 Take a perfect Grip on the load. 

 Pull Load Close to Body as much as possible.  

 Alternate Heavy & Light Lifting. 

 Find a team to Lift, so as we can reduce the weight of the 

load up to a certain limit.   

● Factors of Manual Handling Tasks 

 Posture / Actions 

 Weight / Force 

 Duration / Frequency 

 Work Environment  

 Age 

 Weight 

 Clothing   

 

The risk factors are related to the different aspects of manual 

handling: 

 

● Weight and specific characteristics of the loads 

● Task and organisation of work properly 

● Workplace layout and equipment that are used to lift the load 

● Work environment  

● Individual capacity, skills and training level.  

● Ensure that the object is light enough to lift, is stable and unlikely 

to shift or move 

● Heavy or awkward loads should be moved using a handling aid 

● Make sure the route is clear of obstructions 

● Make sure there is somewhere to put the load down wherever it is 

to be moved to 

● Bend your knees and try and keep the back's natural, upright 

posture 

● Carry the load close to the body with the elbows tucked into the 

body 

● Avoid twisting the body as much as possible by turning your feet to 

position yourself with the load.