The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Manual Handling Operations) Regulations 1998

Regulation 5(2)(a)

SCHEDULE The factors to which the employer must have regard and questions he must consider when making an assessment of manual handling operations or providing instruction for workers.

Column 1	Column 2
Factors	Questions
1  The task	Does it involve: activity which is too strenuous; holding or manipulating loads at distance from trunk; unsatisfactory or unstable bodily movement or posture, especially: twisting the trunk? stooping? reaching upward? excessive movement of loads, especially: excessive lifting or lowering distances? excessive carrying distances? risk of sudden movement of loads? frequent or prolonged physical effort, particularly affecting the spine? insufficient rest or recovery periods? a rate of work imposed by a process?
2  The load	Is it: bulky or unwieldy or difficult to grasp? unstable, or with contents likely to shift? likely, because of its contours and/or consistency, to injure workers, particularly if the individual collides with someone or something? heavy?
3  The working environment	Are there any: space constraints preventing handling loads at a safe height or with good posture? uneven, slippery or unstable deck surfaces? variations in level of deck surfaces (eg door sills) or work surfaces? extremes of temperature or humidity?
4  Individual capability	Is the individual: physically unsuited to carry out the task, either because of the nature of the task or because of a need to protect an individual from a danger which specifically affects him? wearing unsuitable clothing footwear or other personal effects? inadequately experienced or trained?