Manual Handling: Revised Assessment Charts

The Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC) INDG383(rev 2) have been revised and published by the HSE. 

The MAC is a tool developed to help users identify high-risk workplace manual handling activities. The MAC has a numerical and colour coding score system to highlight high-risk manual handling tasks.  

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 set out a clear hierarchy of measures for dealing with risk likely to cause harm from manual handling. These are:

• avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as reasonably practicable;
• assess any manual handling operations that cannot be avoided;
• reduce the risk of injury to as low as reasonably practicable.

The purpose of the assessment is to identify and then reduce the overall level of risk of the task.

The MAC tool assessment provides guidance on the following areas:

• Load weight/frequency
• Hand distance from the lower back
• Vertical lift region
• Torso twisting and sideways bending
• Postural constraints
• Grip on the load
• Floor surface
• Other environmental factors

Doyle Clayton can provide support with ensuring the development and review of manual handling risk assessments. Manual Handing awareness training can be delivered to your staff at your premises. Please contact Sally Beck for further information.