Posted By Willie Ross
The hierarchy of manual handling is to firstly to avoid then eliminate (ie could this work be done in a different way) though it would appear nether of these options are not available to you, I would advise Automation or mechanisation (ie use if a trolley, small forklift where possible etc, baring in mind this my present new different risks requiring precautions of its own).
When carrying out your assessment you should consider the TASK-number of people needed, mechanical aids used, the distance the load is away from the bodies trunk, posture, the distance load is carried/frequency.
Load- weight, position of load to body,bulk of load, Visibility around load,centre of gravity, is the load difficult to grasp, is the load likely to shift.
Environment- weather conditions, gusts of wind, temperatures, slippery conditions,trip hazards, narrow walkways.
Individual- age, gender, state of health and fitness, are employees pregnant or have health problems.
It is important that your assessment reduces the likelihood of harm to employees SFARP for both you and your employer as manual handling injuries remain high across industries and can be costly.
There is good info on the HSE web site and training available for manual handling risk assessors.