Posted By Alan Breen does anyone know if there is a limit to how much weight a person would be allowed to carry depending of course on the persons weight/height and fitness etc:?

Posted By Nick Higginson Alan, There is no weight limit for anyone. The Manual Handling Operations Regs 1992 require employers to: 1. Avoid Manual Handling wherever possible 2. Carry out a risk assessment on any manual handling hazards that remain 3. Reduce risks to lowest levels reasonably practicable There are some weight limits quoted in an appendix at the back, but these are based on operations of 30 times an hour, and are not maximum weight limits, as many people seem to believe. Drop me an e-mail if you would like some more help. I do have a couple of sample electronic MH RA forms I could send if you want. Regards, Nick

Posted By Neil Budworth Just for info the HSE have published a leaflet called handling the news, which is suggesting a limit of 18kg moving to 17kg for newspaper bundles. Regards Neil

Posted By Nick Higginson Isn't that what I said?

Posted By Nick Higginson Bob, Many thanks, how could I have been so shortsighted? Fear not, I will grab the copy of the regs and quote chapter and verse from now on. At least I can be safe in the knowledge that Jack is there to point out the error of my ways. Nick

Posted By Jack Fortunately Nick, Jack is still here to point out the error of your ways. If you re-read his earlier posting you will see he was specifically talking about THE FIGURES IN THE APPENDIX of the HSE GUIDANCE (L23) and when he said: they are basic guideline figures for identifying when manual lifting and lowering operations may not need a detailed assessment, he was quoting DIRECTLY from L23 page 43 Para 7!! Further on in the guidance you can find information about other manual handling guidance eg carrying, pushing, pulling and even handling while seated.

Posted By Brian Dawson I've been watching this thread develop with some amusement. Nick you seem to have taken exception to being "corrected" by Jack. That to me is one of the strengths of this forum. I know it can be irritating - and why doesn't he give his full name? - but it can also be valuable, especially if you are working towards qualifications. In fact, I think Jack was making a valid point. In your initial response your first two paragraphs made the point that there are no weight limits. Then you said the appendix quoted some weight limits. Jack was saying they are not weight limits they are guidelines to determine whether a detailed assessment is necessary. You also confused the issue by referring to these weight limits only applying for 30 operations per hour. You therefore seemed to be implying that there were weight limits but they only applied when you were repeating the operation 30 times an hour. I know you didn't mean that but I also think it was reasonable for Jack to clarify the point. I do not think he was any more pedantic than quite a number of responses to this forum including some of your own (indeed wasn't there one today where you even apologised for pedantry and managed to critise Jacks into the bargain? He must have really got to you!) All the best Brian

Posted By Lee Bennett Dear All, Over the last few days I have been reading the postings on these forums. Most of the questions were quite legitimate and some responses were sarcastic, pedantic, nit picking, and at times puerile. Even I recieved an email saying I should watch my tone from a user of this forum. Is there something in the water ? Is it because we have lost the Ashes ? Or is it just the lack of sun ? Once upon a time these forums were informative and sometimes humourous what went wrong ? No wonder regular contributors are leaving in droves. So come on people if it is reasonably practicable, lets get on with the main objective to make our workplaces safe and healthy, even safety people need to laugh now and again. "I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them." President George Bush

Posted By Jack Yes, things seem to have got a bit serious overnight; is that when the grown ups log on?