Manual Handling at Work Policy Writers

What are Manual Handling Policies?

Manual handling policies outline how employees should safely lift, carry, push or move loads to prevent injury and ensure compliance with health and safety legislation.

These policies help businesses meet their obligations under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, which require employers to avoid hazardous manual handling where possible and to reduce the risks where it cannot be avoided.

What Do Manual Handling Policies Cover?

A manual handling policy typically includes:

• Identification of tasks that involve lifting, carrying or moving loads

• Procedures for risk assessment and safe systems of work

• Training requirements for employees on safe lifting techniques

• Provision of handling aids such as trolleys or lifting equipment

• Responsibilities of managers for monitoring and supervision

• Guidance on team lifting, load limits and ergonomic considerations

• Links to health and safety, accident reporting and workplace equipment policies

A clear policy ensures that employees understand the importance of correct manual handling techniques and know how to access support or equipment when needed.

It also demonstrates compliance with UK law, helping businesses avoid costly injuries, lost time and potential enforcement action from regulators.

Poor manual handling is one of the most common causes of workplace injury, particularly in industries such as logistics, construction, healthcare and retail. Having a structured approach to prevention reduces risk and supports long-term employee health.

By embedding training, risk assessments and safe practices into daily routines, organisations can create safer working environments and promote a culture where wellbeing and safety are prioritised.

Legal Basis

The framework is the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended), supported by HSE's L23 Approved Code of Practice.

Employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, assess unavoidable handling using TILE (Task, Individual, Load, Environment), and reduce the risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable.

Common Compliance Pitfalls

• Generic risk assessment used for all roles instead of task-specific TILE assessments.
• Training delivered once at induction with no refresher cadence.
• No control on ad-hoc lifting in offices and warehouses.
• Mechanical aids supplied but not maintained or used in practice.
• Pregnant and new-mother handling assessments missed (Management Regs 1999 add a separate duty).

What Policy Pros Delivers

Our Manual Handling Policy package includes the main policy, a TILE risk assessment template, a training programme aligned to L23, a mechanical-aids inventory, a pregnant-worker assessment addendum, and integration with the COSHH and PUWER policies.