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Market Report: Health & Safety pt1: Work at height & manual handling Handle with care Equipment to help with manual handling tasks is in greater demand as employers realise their responsibilities. The legislation concerning manual handling has been in place for some time. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations were introduced back in 1992, and were amended only slightly ten years later to integrate them with a European directive. Regulation 4 states that employers shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, avoid the need for employees to undertake manual handling operations at work which involve a risk of them being injured. Where this is not practicable, employers must make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, and then take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injury to the lowest reasonable level. Statistics show that almost a third of all industrial injuries are caused by manual handling accidents, which may involve lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying. In 2003-04, 57,000 such accidents were reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). The Regulations take a systematic approach, focusing on key parameters such as the nature of the task, the type of load involved, the capability of the individual worker and the overall working environment. Guidance is offered in the HSE’s ‘Getting to grips with manual handling’ (INDG143), available from its website (www.hse.gov.uk/pubns). Relevant to many industries The Regulations are relevant to many industries, such as building, brewing, gardening, warehousing, farming and manufacturing, as well as to workers in offices, hospitals, schools and factories. As with so many aspects of Health & Safety, hirers are ideally placed to offer advice and effective solutions. These may range from powered and non-powered trucks and trolleys, to adjustable height devices, mechanical hoists and vacuum lifting devices, as well as customised products. “The
market
has
grown
quickly
in
the
last
two
years,”
states
Peter
Carr,
Managing
Director
of
Concord
Lifting
Equipment,
which
specialises
in
the
hire,
sale,
and
maintenance
of
appropriate
products.
“Employers’
awareness
has
increased
raised
dramatically
owing
to
the
rise
of
a
compensation
culture
in
the
UK.
Demand
is
strong
across
the
board,
from
the
smallest
shifting
skates
to
specialist
lifting
kit.
Construction
companies
are
now
checking
that
all
such
equipment
is
suitably
certificated.
The upward trend is confirmed by Kevin Griffiths, formerly Director of HSS’ Lift & Shift operation, and now Managing Director of Liftec Solutions Ltd. Established 12 months ago and based in Stockport, it chiefly supplies lifting and access equipment, together with Health & Safety advice and training. “Employers are showing huge interest in these products in the wake of no-win no-fee solicitors. “As with work at height and other Health & Safety issues, at the heart of the matter is the need for a careful risk assessment. This will show the nature of any problems, and enable decisions to be made regarding products that should be bought or hired. “Training is vital, and people need to know not only how to lift things correctly, but also the right way in which to operate mechanical solutions, from pallet trucks to forklifts. We offer companies a dedicated service, undertaking a risk assessment and then, if they wish, visiting them regularly to monitor their working environment.” • Executive Hire News › Archives › Feb/March 2006 › Market Report › Handle with care
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