Reducing the risk — Manual Handling Practice

Sample questions

1. 01A manager says avoiding a risky lift is not “reasonably practicable” because the alternative takes some planning. When does HSE say action is not needed?

   • AWhen the handler has already been on a lifting course
   • BWhen the cost is grossly out of proportion to the risk
   • CWhen the change would slow the job down a little
   • DWhen the client has not asked for any change at all

   Why: HSE explains reasonably practicable as weighing the risk against the money, time or trouble needed to control it, and action is only not needed where that would be grossly out of proportion to the risk. Some extra planning or a slightly slower job does not reach that point. A lifting course does not change the duty to avoid hazardous handling under regulation 4(1)(a).

2. 02On a fit-out, every length of containment is carried to a cutting area at the far end of the floor and then carried back to the run. Which change best fits HSE’s first question about avoiding handling?

   • ACarry two lengths on each trip to save time
   • BMove the cutting area out into the site yard
   • CCut each length where it is going to be fitted
   • DGive the carriers a talk on lifting technique

   Why: HSE’s first question is whether the load needs to be handled at all, or whether the work could be done another way. Cutting at the point of fitting removes a whole stage of carrying. Doubling up loads increases the strain, a technique talk does not remove the handling, and moving the cutting area further away adds carrying.

3. 03A supervisor’s answer to a tiring overhead fixing task is to tell the fixers to build up their strength. Which MHSWR principle of prevention does this ignore?

   • AChoosing controls by the lowest cost
   • BLeaving methods to each worker’s habit
   • CRewarding the most productive workers
   • DAdapting the work to the individual

   Why: Schedule 1 to the Management Regulations lists adapting the work to the individual among the principles of prevention, and HSE’s guidance says to fit the operations to the individual rather than the other way round. Telling people to get stronger tries to fit the person to a badly shaped job. Cost, rewards and habit are not principles of prevention.