Your employer should involve you in managing the risks

The Manual Handling Regulations set out a clear hierarchy of measures your employer must follow to prevent and manage the risks from hazardous manual handling:
■ avoid hazardous manual handling operations
■ assess the risk of injury to workers from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be avoided
■ reduce the risk of injury to workers from hazardous manual handling, for example, using lifting aids and equipment.

Workers have a role to play too

Your employer has a legal responsibility to protect your health but you have duties too. You should:

■ follow systems of work put in place for your health and safety;
■ use any equipment provided for your health and safety properly;
■ cooperate with your employer on health and safety issues;
■ inform your employer if things change or you identify hazardous handling activities;
■ take care to make sure your activities do not put others at risk.

Ask your employer about the measures in place to protect you from the risk of moving and handling materials on a small, medium or large building site. Remember, your employer has a legal responsibility to protect you from harm.