Posted By Andy123 Hi All, We currently receive high cube containers with white goods products which are 3 high (undercounter fridges) approx 30-40kg. We have carried out a risk assessment and have put some additional processess in and a safe system of work, but this doesn't get a way from the fact that the top level fridges are above head height. It is not an option to reduce the items on the containers, for commercial reasons, we have looked at different configurations and possible MHE tools,but to no avail. We have also spoken to our competitors in the market, and they don't seem to have particular processess for this type of manual handling from height.(Well known High st retailers) We have the option of 2 man lifting or 1 man lifting. The risks from 2 man lifting would reduce the risk slightly in this situation. My question is really does anyone know if there are any guidelines on lifting above head height or can offer any further comments? Kind Regards Andy

Posted By Andy123 Johnathon, The containers are unloaded on fixed bays. FLT's are used to unload the stock when it has been manually handled into a stack of products a safe distance away from where they are working. The products are within a cm of each side of the container and about the same from the roof and the top product(3rd Level). The way the products are loaded , it is impossible for them to fall out without physically moving them by hand.Even at the back doors they are straps and airbags to ensure the product can't move. There is just enough gap for the staff to handle them to lift them down. However the staff do use 1 product on the floor as a shelf (if you like) to reduce the distance of lifting them down to about waist height from above head height instead of above head height to the floor. An HSE Inspector have seen this in operation and didn't make any comments, as we had a safe system of work in place but we are concerned that we need to do more to protect all staff and to try to reduce the risk further if possible. I was very surprised at the standard of processess within other organisation's who carry out this type of handling though. Andy