Did you know that over a third of all over-three-day injuries reported each year to HSE and local authorities are caused by manual handling - the transporting or supporting of loads by hand or bodily force.

The most recent survey of self reported work-related illness estimated that in 2001/02   1.1 million people in Great Britain suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused or made worse by their current or past work.  An estimated 12.3 million working days were lost due to these work-related MSDs. On average, each sufferer took about 20 days off in that 12 month period.

Prevention and control of MSDs, such as manual handling injuries has been identified as a priority by the Health and Safety Commission.   The Regulations require employers to:

• Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable
• Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be avoided
• Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable

Employees have duties too:

• Follow appropriate systems of work laid down for their safety
• Make proper use of equipment provided for their safety
• Co-operate with their employer on health and safety matters
• Inform the employer if they identify hazardous handling activities
• Take care to ensure that their activities do not put others at risk