Manual Handling Regulations - Coverage

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 cover every workplace except sea-going ships in normal circumstances.

The regulations cover the avoidance or reduction of risks caused by any means of transporting or supporting by hand or bodily force any load, including a person or an animal.

The risks covered are those directly attributable to the manual handling of the load, for example lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying, moving, etc.

For example, the regulations do NOT cover the risk of injury from the toxic or corrosive properties of a substance which has leaked or spilled from a load, or which is otherwise present on the surface of a load, or which is a constituent part of the load; but they DO cover the risk of slipping on the spill or leakage, the risk of losing grip on a wet load surface, or the risk of losing control of the load due to the movement of liquid inside.

Examples of possible grey areas, where risks may be covered both by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and other requirements, include:

risk of injury from faulty equipment, such as failure of a brake on a trolley being pushed, which is generally more properly covered by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (see C, Work Equipment) and the employer's general duties in the Health and Safety at Work Act (see A, Health and Safety Management Systems);

risk of injury from animals, such as being bitten or otherwise infected by a dog that is being carried, which is generally more properly covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (see E, Substances) and the employer's general duties in the Health and Safety at Work Act (see A, Health and Safety Management Systems).

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