GSA Manual Handling of Loads Risk Assessment

Section A - Preliminary:

Activity/Task Description:
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Factors Beyond the Limits of the Guidelines:
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/ Is an Assessment Needed?
(i.e. is there a potential risk for injury, and are the factors beyond the limits of the guidelines?)
YES ☐ NO ☐

If ‘YES’ continue. If ‘NO’ the assessment need go no further.

Operations Covered by this Assessment:
(Detailed description)
Location: Click here to enter text.
Personnel Involved: Click here to enter text.
Date of Assessment: Click here to enter text.
/ Diagrams (and other relevant information)

Section B (see attached Section B worksheet)

Section C - Overall Assessment of the Risk of Injury? EXTREME ☐ HIGH ☐

MEDIUM ☐ LOW ☐

Section D - Remedial Action (see attached Section D worksheet for action parties/target dates)

Remedial steps that should be taken, in order of priority:
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Date by which action should be taken: Click here to enter text.
Date for re-assessment: Click here to enter text.
Assessor’s Name: Click here to enter text. Signature:

Section B: More Detailed Assessment – Where necessary

Questions to consider / If YES, mark
as appropriate / Problems occurring from the task
(Make rough notes in this column in preparation for the possible remedial action to be taken). / Possible Remedial Action
(Possible changes to be made to system/task, load, workplace/space, and environment. Communication that is needed).
Low / Medium / High / Extreme
The Tasks:
  • Holding away from the body?
  • Twisting?
  • Stooping?
  • Reaching upwards?
  • Large vertical movement?
  • Long carrying distances?
  • Strenuous pushing/pulling?
  • Unpredictable movement of loads?
  • Repetitive handling?
  • Insufficient rest or recovery?
  • A work rate imposed by a process?
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The Loads: are they
  • Heavy?
  • Bulky/unwieldy?
  • Difficult to grasp?
  • Unstable/unpredictable?
  • Intrinsically harmful (e.g. sharp or hot)?
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The working Environment:
  • Constraints on posture?
  • Poor floors?
  • Variations in levels?
  • Hot/cold/humid conditions?
  • Strong air movements?
  • Poor lighting conditions?
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Individual Capability - Does the job:
  • Require unusual capability?
  • Hazard to those with a health problem?
  • Hazard to those who are pregnant?
  • Call for special information/training?
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Other factors / ☐ / ☐ / ☐ / ☐
OVERALL RISK / DESCRIPTION
1-4 LOW / Low risks are largely acceptable, monitor periodically to determine situation changes which may affect the risk, or after significant changes
5-10 MEDIUM / Medium risks should only be tolerated for the short-term and then only whilst further control measures to mitigate the risk are being planned and introduced, within a defined time period.
12-20 HIGH / High risks activities should cease immediately until further control measures to mitigate the risk are introduced. The continued effectiveness of control measures must be monitored periodically.
25 EXTREME / Work should not be started or continued until the risk has been mitigated. Immediate action is required to reduce exposure. A detailed mitigation plan must be developed, implemented and monitored by senior management to reduce the risk before work is allowed to commence
OVERALL RISK
(Based on Likelihood X Severity)
SEVERITY INDEX
LIKELIHOOD / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
5 / 5-MED / 10-MED / 15-HIGH / 20-HIGH / 25 -EXTREME
4 / 4-LOW / 8-MED / 12-HIGH / 16-HIGH / 20-HIGH
3 / 3-LOW / 6-MED / 9-MED / 12-HIGH / 15-HIGH
2 / 2-LOW / 4-LOW / 6-MED / 8-MED / 10-MED
1 / 1-LOW / 2-LOW / 3-LOW / 4-LOW / 5-MED

Section C: Remedial Action – Where necessary

Remedialstepstobetaken,inorder ofpriority
(extreme/high/med/low) / Person responsiblefor implementing controls / Target date / Completed
Y/N
Datebywhichactionsshouldbecompleted:
Dateforreviewofassessment:
Assessor’sname: / Signature: