Assess the risks of manual handling

You must assess the risks that staff face when lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling as part of your overall health and safety risk assessment.Five steps to assessing risks ask how you can reduce the risk of them occurring. Work out who might be harmed, and how. Consider which staff might be particularly vulnerable

Identify significant hazards in your workplace. Consult staff about the hazards they face and ask how you can reduce the risk of them occurring. Work out who might be harmed, and how. Consider which staff might be particularly vulnerable. For example, do young, disabled or pregnant employees ever need to lift or carry as part of their job? Remember to consider the risks to visitors to your workplace, such as cleaners and contractors.


Evaluate the risks and decide whether existing precautions are adequate. Draw up an action list with priorities at the top. Record your findings. If you employ five or more people, you must write down your findings and inform staff of them. Review your assessment and revise it if necessary.


You must reduce manual-handling risks to the lowest level that is "reasonably practicable". In essence this means until the cost of further precautions would outweigh the benefitsYou should also consider the risks of staff slipping or tripping when lifting or carrying loads. See our guide on how to avoid slips and trips.