Hi Ransom

I very much doubt that anyone on this site is going to give you a "template" that would give you much comfort, and even less so one that is free.

If, for a moment, we translate "template" as something that includes a series of questions which then take you in one direction or another, then HSE free guidance on manual handling gives you those QQ but with a HUGE caveat that says that the Q set is only for relatively simple scenarios.

Let's take five example jobs:

1. Driver of a bus

2. Tunneller hand digging small cross tunnels on a new underground system

3. Mechanic repairing machines in a factory

4. Farm labourer picking crops

5. Scaffolder erecting and dismantling the support structure for the concrete works for e.g. a high rise building

Each of these involves potential significant whole body ergonomic risks, with some commonalties and some distinct variations, with one of the many variables being that two of the jobs are in the open air and the other three within structures with degrees of space limitations.

But, unless you are an ergonomist or at least have a high level qualification in physiology a template is likely to get you off to a very dodgy start.

The UK doesn't employ nearly enough ergonomists and the consequences are very expensive. Just the costs don't scream out as they might as many of the adverse outcomes are of a chronic nature and don't make it to the RIDDOR (or similar) statistics.

I am all for OSH professionals stretching their competence, but not for recommending that you buy (or to save money, borrow) a spade, dig a hole and then continue digging.

So, I think you need to identify the tasks which may be of concern and then bring in appropriate expertise to assist you.

The alternative is that the hole collapses and you are buried, as it is the ergonomist who supports the excavation to prevent it collapsing.

There is a lot of ergonomic input into the design of a modern bus and sometimes they get it horribly wrong which is why there are lots of women bus drivers complaining.

Edited by user 13 November 2022 17:32:16(UTC)  | Reason: One hand was more in tune with my brain than the other