Moving and handling really matters
Construction Employers
HSE BUILDING SITE INSPECTIONS
HSE inspectors will visit construction sites across England, Scotland and Wales in October and November to check that workers’ health is being protected from the risks associated with moving and handling materials. They will look for evidence of employers and workers:
- Knowing the risks.
- Planning their work.
- Using the right controls.
YOUR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES
As an employer, you must protect your workers from getting hurt or ill through work.
If you don’t, you could get:
- verbal or written advice,
- an improvement or prohibition notice,
- or be prosecuted by HSE or your local authority.
What are the risks?
Construction work, by its very nature, involves lifting, carrying and handling activities that can cause significant, often long-term injuries if the risks are not managed effectively.
Construction workers have a high risk of developing aches, pains and discomfort in muscles and joints, referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
These injuries can seriously impact on workers performance and their ability to stay in work. Working days lost through MSDs have huge financial implications for businesses, as well as time spent to recruit and train replacement workers if needed. These injuries can often be reoccurring, so it’s important to get the control measures right to protect workers’ long-term health, wellbeing and ability to remain in work.
THE LAW: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
AVOID, ASSESS, REDUCE
- Avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as reasonably practicable.
- Assess any manual handling operations that cannot be avoided.
- Reduce the risk of injury to as low as reasonably practicable.
FREE RESOURCES TO PROTECT YOUR WORKERS
These provide essential health and safety advice you should follow, even if you don’t directly employ the people working on your site.
Manual handling – what you need to know as a busy builder
This provides essential health and safety advice.
Manual handling – A brief guide
This explains the problems associated with manual handling and includes guidance on how to deal with them. It gives useful practical advice on reducing the risk of injury from manual handling and will help employers carry out their duties under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC)
This is a tool to help you assess the most common risk factors in lifting, carrying and handling activities. It was developed to identify high-risk manual handling and will point you towards the factors you need to modify to control these risks. Learn more about the tool and how it can support your business in assessing the risks to workers from moving and handling materials.
For more info:
- Visit HSE’s Manual handling assessment charts (MAC tool) page
- Visit HSE for information and animated video regarding the MSD assessment tool which combines three assessment guides (MAC, ART and RAPP) in one digital solution.
Moving and handling really matters poster
Moving and handling really matters - A3 poster