Posted By KEVIN O'KANE Hi , has anyone used the above tool? How did you find it to use and did it give your managers a better understanding of the issues when presented to them in this format. I am thinking of using it as a method to show how bad it is in some of our workplaces. Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers kevin

Posted By David Bramall Hi Kevin Yes I have tried the MAC tool, I worked right through it ticking the appropriate boxes weight of load, position, all the questions asked. Now the colour coding for each individual element is alright Red, Amber, Green etc. The sad thing was after having worked through the whole thing I ended up with a score of sorts, but when I looked for the interpretation of what the scores mean - guess what; there weren't any so I just had to go back to the regs and guidance and interpret them myself the best way I could. Please dont think I am knocking it, I do know that a lot of people use it with some success; but I cant get my head round it. Regards DrB

Posted By Nigel C I use it a lot and I do think that it is good. I agree that it would be better if there was a guide that said what is a poor score and when action should be taken, but we all know that the people who design these tools would never stick their neck out that far!! If you use the mac tool to assess a process before and after a change it is very useful. I once used it to justify the need for a total change in process that removed a single person lift of 32KG into an easily storable stillage to a two person team lift onto a pallet that caused storage difficulties. Without the Mac tool the change would never have been accepted. I've used the Work place upper limb disorder tool and this is even worse to interpret as there are no scores at all.

Posted By ColinPink Hello Of all the manual handling assessment tools i've used in the past. I've found REBA to be the most use (Rapid Entire Body Assessment). I've used it to look at all kinds of activities and its particularly useful as it indicates a level of risk. Plus once you get the hang of its very quick to use. Its published in the Applied Ergonomics Journal April 2000 by S Hignett or alternatively its in the back of The Guide to Handling of People 5th Edition 2005. Unfortunatly i haven't got a copy of it anymore but i have seen it in my local libary.

Posted By Merv Newman Not getting at you Kieran, but in addition to behavioural leadership and behavioural safety it is also a good idea to teach supervisors correct lifting and carrying techniques. I have known factories to put every operator through this training but not a single supervisor or manager. Within days the effect of the training had been totally lost and everyone had gone back to the old bad habits. Teach managers and supervisors the right techniques and they can coach their employees on what to do. Merv