Posted By Paul Leadbetter Paul L23 is only guidance (although it looks like an ACoP!) Also, the 'weight recommendations' are only a risk assessment filter; the HSE is very careful to say that they are not safe lifting limits. Paul

Posted By MichaelM Paul I would always take these as guidance of the maximum weights. There are vast variances in the strength of people even of the same height and build. There may also be medical conditions such as a bad back to be aware of. A box may be very large and hard to carry where a box of the same weight may be small and easietr to carry etc. All of the factors should go into a risk assessment. Michael

Posted By Kieran J Duignan 'yes, but, if it went to court', Paul, you are taking action to indicate that you have advised your employer options for acting 'in so far as reasonably practicable'. The erognomic physiologist Steve Pheasant made a useful practical distinction in relation to manual handling, between 'physical risk factors' (which are 'wired in' to an employee) and 'ergonomic risk factors', which an employer can change. The source is 'Ergonomics, Work and Health' (Macmillan Press, 1991). If you are interested, I can email you a short summary.