RISK ASSESSMENT No / RA011-F / Page 1 of 2
Work Activity:
General Manual Handling of Materials/Equipment / 
Thornliebank Industrial Estate Glasgow G46 8JW
Tel: 0141 638 7916 Fax: 0141 638 8111
Site/Location:
Factory, Branch workshops and various site locations
Those at Risk / Y/N / Comments - enter names or general groups
Star Employees:
Other workers:
General Public: / Y
N
N / All production, service, maintenance and installation engineers
Comments:
By its nature, refrigeration work is varied. Therefore, the manual handling of materials and equipment will be required in many situations too numerous to be assessed individually. This varied nature of work eliminates the possibility of repetitive lifting operations, which could lead to a repetitive strain injury.
Star is committed to eliminating hazardous manual handling by mechanising lifts where reasonably practicable..
The factory and branches have adequate provision of mechanical lifting aids such as cranes, lift trucks, pallet trucks, sack barrows, hoists and chain blocks to reduce the need for manual handling.
Site installation work is always planned so that mobile cranes, sack barrows, pallet trucks, skates, jacks, chain blocks, etc are available. The type of mechanical aid provided will be appropriate for the type of load and will again reduce the need for manual handling.
Mechanical aids cannot totally eliminate the need for manual handling. Therefore, the control measures detailed in this risk assessment will be required to reduce the risk of a manual handling injury to an acceptable level.
Additional specific manual handling assessments may be required for the following situations:-
  1. When access limits the use of mechanical aids.
  2. When access limits personal movement.
  3. Repetitive lifts (e.g. hundreds of coils of plastic pipe for an ice rink pad).
Note: Specific Manual Handling assessments must be completed on Star Standard Form SF082
Hazards
Injury e.g. hernia, slipped disc, torn ligaments, muscle strains, etc, from poor technique of manual;
  1. Lifting
  2. Lowering
  3. Carrying
  4. Pushing
  5. Pulling
Hand injury from;
  1. Sharp edges on the load (tool, component, swarf, etc) causing cuts to fingers.
  2. Fingers being crushed as the loads are set down.
Foot or toe injury from;
  1. The load being accidentally dropped.

Control Measures(existing or planned)

Control / Details
PPE: /
  1. Safety boots with a heel, good grip and steel toe cap (200 joule)
  2. Leather handling gloves to protect against cuts and abrasions
  3. Back support belts may be used (but not to increase the load an individual may lift)

Equipment: /
  1. Many forms of mechanical lifting aid are owned or hireable, appropriate equipment will be provided dependant on the type of lift. Employees will be trained in its use and actively encouraged to use it by supervisory staff.

Information, Instruction, and Training /
  1. Staff will be advised of risks of injury from poor manual handling techniques and non-use of PPE. All staff will receive the Star Toolbox Talk on Manual Handling and training from specialist handling instructors will be provided.
  2. All staff are required to:
a)avoid manual handling which they believe may cause them injury
b)avoid manual handling which is beyond their capacity
c)make use of the mechanical lifting aids wherever practical
d)seek assistance from colleagues (team lift) for heavy or awkward tasks

Control Measures Continued

Control / Details
Supervision: / The Production Director and Branch Managers will :
  1. Ensure that appropriate mechanical aids to lifting are provided and maintained.
  2. Ensure that staff are appropriately trained and maintain records of training
  3. Review material, component and supplies storage arrangements
  4. Ensure that all control measures are in place
  5. Investigate manual handling accidents

Environment; / The following will minimise the risk of injury:
1Good lighting
2A firm footing
3Adequate room for movement
Procedures, documents etc / N/A
COSHH: / N/A
Communications: / N/A
Emergency action/procedures / There are no special requirements over and above the normal first-aid provision.
Access: / 1Poor access arrangements may impose additional constraints on good manual handling-to be reviewed by Design engineers, Production and Branch Managers for each circumstance
Other procedures / 1Buyers and contract managers to review the materials ordered and where practicable order materials in suitable sizes for handling.
2Contract supervisors or project engineers will ensure site storage areas close to the work site in order to minimise handling distances

Risk Evaluation of Identified Hazards

Likelihood / Highly unlikely = 1 / Unlikely = 2 / Likely = 3
Severity / Slightly harmful = 1 / Harmful = 2 / Extremely harmful = 3
(Likelihood x Severity = Risk level) 1 = Trivial, 2 = Tolerable, 3-4 = Moderate, 6 = Substantial, 9 = Intolerable
Identified Hazards (base scores on existing or planned control measures) / Triv' / Tol' / Mod' / Sub' / Int'
Back injury, hernia etc from poor technique of manual;
1Lifting 2x1
2Lowering 2x1
3Carrying 2x1
4Pushing 2x1
5Pulling 2x1
Hand injury from;
1Sharp edges on the load (tool, component, swarf, etc) causing cuts to fingers. 2x1
2Fingers being crushed as the loads are set down. 1x2
Foot or toe injury from;
1The load being accidentally dropped. 1x2 / 2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

Note:Moderate scores; Thought should be given to reducing risk, but the cost and time requirements of prevention

Should be carefully considered and limited.

Substantial: Work should not be started until the risk has been reduced, for work in progress, urgent

action is required. Considerable resources may have to be allocated.

Intolerable: If unlimited resources cannot reduce risk, work will be prohibited.

Is risk adequately controlled using the above control measures Y/N / YES / If "NO" State further action required
State further action required:

Note : This risk assessment is only valid when all control measures are in place before the work or activity commences and will be reviewed 05/09/2016 or earlier if the nature of the work changes or there is a dangerous occurrence.

Assessor: / C Haslam / (Sign) / Date 5/09/2011

References:Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

Manual handling Guidance on Regulations L23