Posted By Glynn T Gibson The loads are not only bulky with no hand holds and very heavy,but they have to be carried down small stair cases and round corners. There's the problem - do you have the solution??? I need one or two teams of refuse collectors trained in risk assessing the situation and finding the safe solution, or to walk away and talk to their manager. So if you have experience in this area and you are interested in training please let me know. OR If you have a similar siruation I would be interested in hearing how you deal with the situation. Cheers

Posted By Manny It may be worth investing in a mechanical device such as a stair walker (I beleive they are also known as a cargomaster). They are designed for transporting loads up/down stairs. Manny

Posted By Kieran J Duignan Glynn It is evident from your question and comments that you've given quite a lot of thought to the problem. So, I'll simply add a couple of comments (as a safety ergonomist v. interested in controlling risks associated with manual handling as injuries can be both very painful for the individual and expensive for an employer). 1. A guide published by the RCN about manual handling in NHS settings has lots of useful proposals and explanations which could form the basis of good training in the MAC tool published by the HSE. 2. Limbering up and regular brief muscular relaxation exercises is a neglected method of injury prevention for this kind of work; its benefits are not only regular relief of physical strain but also a simple reminder to take systematic care when handling loads. More defensively, training in this method, supported by good reminder cards, stands an employer in good stead if they're sued for personal injury damages.