'Manual Handling' is a term which includes lifting, putting down, moving, pushing, pulling and carrying by hand or bodily force of goods, equipment and people

Lifting and carrying is the second most common cause of injuries for employees and causes some of the most serious and long-lasting injuries such as back pain and work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs). Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employers have a legal duty to eliminate, if possible, lifting and carrying tasks which can cause injury. Where this cannot be done they must do a detailed assessment and reduce the risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level.