The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 set a three step order for manual handling risk. First, avoid it. Then assess what you cannot avoid. Finally, reduce the risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable.
Courses that cover the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
These 3 ProCompliance courses name the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 as their governing framework. They are the training this law asks for. Each course page states its own accreditation.
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Read our guides: Safe manual handling techniques and The dangers of incorrect lifting.
What the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require
Employers must “avoid the need for his employees to undertake any manual handling operations at work which involve a risk of their being injured”, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Where avoidance is not reasonably practicable, make “a suitable and sufficient assessment of all such manual handling operations”.
Take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injury “to the lowest level reasonably practicable”.
Give employees general indications on the weight of each load. Where reasonably practicable, give precise information instead. The same applies to the heaviest side of any load whose centre of gravity sits off centre.
Read the official text on legislation.gov.uk
What the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 mean for training
The regulations do not name training as a separate duty. Training is how employers meet the reduce step and the information duty in practice. It also sits under the general training duty in section 2(2)(c) of the 1974 Act.
Common questions
Is manual handling training a legal requirement in the UK?
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to avoid, assess and reduce manual handling risk. They also require information about load weights. Training is the usual way of meeting the reduce and inform duties. The general training duty also applies. It sits in section 2(2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Is there a legal maximum lifting weight in the UK?
No. The regulations set no maximum weight. They require employers to assess the risk and reduce it to the lowest level reasonably practicable. That assessment takes account of the task, the load, the working environment and the individual.
This plain English summary is not legal advice. The wording above comes from the official text. This page links to that text, and you should rely on it instead. Some duties depend on your own risk assessment, so only that assessment can tell you what they mean.