Posted By Jane Smythe Hi Not really my field of expertise: On the HSE website under Manual Handling it states: Remember the Regulations do not set specific requirements such as weight limits. Consider: the task; the load; the person’s capability; and the working conditions. Not sure if this is of any help Jayne

Posted By Kieran J Duignan Peter Building on what Jane has noted, you're wading into uncontrollable risks with your proposal. The Manual Handling Operations Regs 1992, as amended 2004, represent a good endeavour to apply current scientific understanding of musculoskeletal disorders. It's still incomplete, but the present stage of scientific knowledge of them is as she summaries. There are two practical general implications. One is that some people are likely to be able to lift very heavy weights with one hand with little risk - but you have no way of reliably knowing who they are. The other is a precaution, namely that the reason musculoskeletal problems are so difficult to predict is that your own body is making demands on your energy and muscles simply when you sit or stand straight. If you then risk losing balance by one-handed lifting, you have failed to apply the basic precautions about this area of risk. That's the message I got straight from the mouth of the guy who, at the time, was one of the world's leading experts in safe lifting (and other matters osteopathic), Steve Pheasant.