Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

17.23.3
Duties of employers assessment of 
risk – Regulation 4 (1) (b) (i)
Where it is not reasonably practicable to avoid MHO, 
employers must make a suitable and suffi cient risk 
assessment of all such MHO in accordance with the 
requirements of Schedule 1 to the Regulations (shown 
later). This duty to assess the risk takes into account the 
task
, the 
load
, the 
working environment
and 
individual 
capability
.
17.23.4
Duties of employers – reducing the risk 
of injury – Regulation 4 (1) (b) (ii)
Where it is not reasonably practicable to avoid the MHO 
at which there is a risk of injury, employers must take 
steps to reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level rea-
sonably practicable.
The structured approach (considering the task, the 
load, the working environment and the individual capabil-
ity) is recommended in the guidance. The steps taken 
will involve ergonomics, changing the load, mechanical 
assistance, task layout, work routines, personal protect-
ive equipment, team working and training.
17.23.5
Duties of employers – additional 
information on the load – Regulation 
4 (1) (b) (iii)
Employers must take appropriate steps where manual 
handling cannot be avoided to provide general indica-
tions and, where practicable precise information on:
➤
the weight of each load
➤
the heaviest side of any load which does not have a 
central centre of gravity.
The information is probably best marked on the load. 
Sections 3 and 6 of the HSW Act may place duties on 
originators of loads, like manufacturers or packers.
17.23.6