Rank: Forum user 
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Hi,
Im creating a risk assessment form in excel based on the L23 manual handling ACOP appenix 4 risk assessment but, for the initial assessment in appendix 3 of the L23 ACOP there is a filter section for filtering out the need for a full risk assessment (for tasks deemed of minimal risk).
What I would like opinions on is, whether its better using a MAC (indg383) as the initial filter or basing the initial filter on appendix 3 of the ACOP.
Regards,
RB
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Rocky
I think some people mistake the MAC tool for a risk assessment in its self. Clearly you are not doing this as you are wanting to do an initial filter of the tasks. The MAC tool can be very useful for such a filter as it helps identify the most significant factor of a manual handling task for improvement. Unfortunately where it fails is that it does not allow you to take a cumulative affect of each factor. So for arguments sake if all the factors come out as amber the task could be more hazardous than one where most factors are green and one is red. To filter your tasks you are probably better using a combination of both.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I have always used the filter in appendix 3 first, then applied MAC to prioritise my detailed assessments. I think the ACOP even gives a table for doing this.
The reality is MAC takes longer and so you want to limit the tasks you apply it too
MAC is a great tool for some environments and can be really useful.
Good luck
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for your feedback on the manual handling form. So far Im combining both the forms tp get the initial document though, I was wanting to know about the MAC tool and the final scoring of the assessment. On the imdg 383 it shows the final assessment table page12 though it doesnt say at which level action has to be taken at? Can either of you gentlemen help me with this?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rocky
That the problem with all such systems there is no definitive right or wrong answer. As I said initially the Mac tool is very good about identifying a part of a manual handling operation that is particularly bad, that the could be the weight, the poor ergonomics or the repartition which gives you some idea of where to target your initial action. Unfortunately it will never say that a particular manual handling activity is without risk. This is where your provisionally judgement comes in to show you have done everything that is reasonably practicable.
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Rank: Forum user
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Ah, I see, yes, I understand it now, Ill probably have to design the form a bit differently then. Designing the form as I wont be doing all the manual handling risk assessments, trying to make it user friendly.
I was wanting to have all green possibly go through as ok to do the task if the operators use their manual handling training to progress and use the amber and reds as either the operators needs to put in a control measure to bring the risk back to the green zone or else a full risk assessments would be required.
I can imagine the form becoming quite a long one - I dont want the operators to just tick box exercise it as its too long.
:/
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Rank: Forum user
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Not to sound like a broken record but in the MAC assessment, is there any point in putting the numbers into the form. i.e. Green=1 amber =2 red=6 purple=10. I mean is there any quantitative reading I can take from this thing. I was thinking of adding up the scores then dividing them by the amont of questions to try reach an average then show the average on the chart with the ribbons of coulour on it. I dont know if Im over complicating it though.
The alternative was to put the measures in at amber and above as requiring control measures to minimise the risk and green to go through if it was reasonaby practicable by the assessor. Seems like a five steps to risk assessment which is why I am kind of confused with the HSE putting numbers on the indg383 when maybe low, med and high would have been easier for me to comprehend.
Any thoughts on this scenario?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rocky
Firstly apologies spell check changed professional to provisional and I did not notice.
I agree that using score on the mac and not on risk assessments seems odd particularly as the final score as no definitive meaning. The score for me is only useful in ranking your assessments at the end, but even that does not hold true every time.
If you can show you have eliminated manual handling where practicable and reduced the risk factors as low as practicable where the task cannot be eliminated I think you will probably have a good assessment
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