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Manual Handling in the Retail Sector
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The Health and Safety Authority published Guide on Manual Handling Risk Assessment in the Retail Sector.
The retail sector currently employs almost 270,000 people, which is more than any other area of the economy. The nature of business requires people to engage in various activities, including physical activities, such as manual handling.
Back injuries accounted for 29% of all injuries suffered by workers in the retail sector (based on 2007 figures).
All employers are legally required to risk asses all manual handling tasks and implement control measures to reduce risks, where risk is high
The Guide follows a simple approach to manual handling risk assessment:
- Collect information about manual handling task. The risk assessor is required to carry out detailed review of the task and outline its key stages.
- Collect technical details. Technical details may include the weight and size of the load, center of gravity, the number of lifts per manual handling task, etc. Videos and photographs are a good idea during this stage of manual handling risk assessment.
- Identification of problems. Refer to Schedule 3 of 2007 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations during this stage to determine if any manual handling risk factors detailed in the Schedule 3 exist, such as:
- heavy load
- large load
- difficult to grasp
- variations in levels
- poor lighting conditions, etc.
4. Suggest improvements. This stage of manual handling risk assessment must be completed in consultation with staff involved in manual handling activities. It is important that controls being introduced are practical, easy to follow and do not pose additional hazards. Some of the controls may include:
- mechanical means
- housekeeping policies
- relocation of stock
- training
- maintenance of handling aids.
5. Review of effectiveness of controls to determine whether implemented corrective actions actually reduced manual handling injuries or further solutions are necessary.
The benefits of manual handling risk assessment include better way of doing the task, less manual handling, improved housekeeping and reduced risk of injury.
The Guide then goes through various case studies that apply to most retail outlets. The main ones being:
- pallet stacking
- operating tills
- stocking warehouse
- loading delivery vehicles, etc.
The full version of the guide can be accessed HERE.