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Manual Handling Legislation and the Health & Safety benefits to using Manual Handling Trolleys

30-07-2026

Manual Handling Legislation and the benefits of Manual Handling Trolleys

What is Manual Handling

Manual handing is the transportation of a load by hand or bodily force, by lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving a load

The law

There are many risks involved with manual handling in the workplace. Employers must comply with the Health & Safety Legislation for manual handling set by the HSE.

Manual handling - Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 - updated by the health & safety regulations 2002

COSHH - The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

Manual handling risks:

Musculoskeletal disorders (MDSs)

Back strain

Shoulder injuries

Fatigue

Slips & Falls

Spillages & contamination

Reduced visibility

Legal risk

Health & Safety

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is a Government organisation that sets the health & Safety legislation in the UK.

Manual handling accounts for a third of reported incidents of injury in the workplace. The HSE has set mandatory Manual Handling Legislation in the UK to prevent the risk of injuries and ill health in the work place. All employers have a duty to protect workers from risk of injury and ill health and must comply with the legislation.

Employers must provide workers with manual handling training and training of all handling equipment prior to the task commencing and provide ongoing training throughout employment.

In a fast paced work environment manual handling equipment helps the workplace comply with health and safety legislation while working efficiently to meet targets and increase productivity. Manual handling trolleys are the perfect solution in many situations for storing and transporting tasks around the workplace.

During the COVID-19 pandemic many companies had to alter manual handling procedures due to social distancing moving a 2 person move to 1 person move. This situation prompted companies to alter their working practises often involving the implementation of trolleys to replace a 2 person manual carry to comply with new regulation.

When moving a hazardous load is unavoidable there are two things to consider, Redesigning the task to avoid moving the load & automating or mechanising the process.

Manual handling regulations

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 - updated by the health & safety regulations 2002

Guidance on Regulations

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations require employers to avoid, assess and reduce the risk of injury or ill health from manual handling.

Avoid - avoid hazardous manual handling, so far as reasonably practicable

Assess - assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided

Reduce - reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling to as low as reasonably practicable

Manual handling and equipment training

All employers must ensure all workers are trained in manual handling and all equipment before the task commences with further training on going.

Good handling technique

The HSE has set specific handling techniques that must be followed. Employers are responsible for workers to be trained in the good handling technique and workers must make sure they use these techniques.

Use both hands, lifting a load in front of and close to your body, without twisting.

position - feet should be apart with one leg in front of the other

Ensure a good hold on the load.

Slight bending of your back, hips and knees

Do not flex your back any further while lifting.

Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways

Keep your head up when handling.

Move smoothly

Do not lift or handle more than you can easily manage.

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Manual handling and substances hazardous to health

COSHH

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

The Law states that employers are required to Plan, manage and monitor substances hazardous to health (HSE) and adequately control exposure.

When manual handling involves transporting, moving or storing substances hazardous to health the COSHH Legistlation must be followed.

Prevent exposure to hazardous substances:

Prevent exposure

Identify the hazards

Risk assessment - to prevent the harm to health

Provide control measures to reduce harm to health

Make sure control methods in good working order

Provide information, instruction and training for workers and others

Provide monitoring and health survelliance in appropriate cases

Make sure they are used

Incorrect manual handling, transportation and moving of goods can lead to spillages, contamination, fires and explosions. To prevent exposure items need to be stored, transported and handled securely.

A good example of using manual handling trolleys to meet COSHH Legislation is the correct storing and holding of aerosols. Aerosols must have mesh apertures no bigger than 25mm x 25mm due to explosion containment in event of fire, while still allowing fire suppression systems to be effective.

Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence.(HSE)

Lifting by crane

Specific manual handling trolleys with certified crane lifting points can be attached and lifted by crane. Regulated by strict legislation.

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

When lifting a manual handling trolley by crane the trolley LOLER regulations apply. The trolley becomes classified as a lifting accessory as it is between the crane and the load.

The trolley has to be issued with a LOLER certificate by the manufacturer and will include a full safety check and must be reassessed every 6 months.

People and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment are legally responsible for following and maintaining LOLER Legislation and regulations. This includes all businesses and organisations whose employees use lifting equipment, whether owned by them or not.

Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence.(HSE)

Manual Handling Trolleys

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Manual handling Trolleys are strong, easy to use wheeled platforms designed in many different shapes and sizes. Trolleys safely move bulky, large, heavy or multiple products around the workplace. Trolleys can transport many hazardous items including gas cylinder bottles, liquids and flammable products and are designed to hold them securely during transport.

Designed to push and pull rather than lift and carry. Designed manually or electronically.

Available from a standard range or a custom bespoke design and build service to meet workplace and workforce needs. Available with stored step ladders when working with height.

Certain types of manual handling trolleys can be lifted by a crane.

Available custom designed and built to meet the ergonomics and capabilities of the workforce.

Designed for specific intended use can be built with various configurations such as shelves, baskets or spillage inlays.

Trolleys are one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to make manual handling safer.

Reducing the risk

Employers have a duty to fully train workers in manual handling and manual handling equipment before any work task is carried out. Once training is complete employers must ensure all tasks and equipment are suitable for the workers capabilities.

Employers must follow the avoid reduce assess method and risk assess all areas that could potentially cause a risk or ill health.

Ergonomics

- the task & the human factors

Does the task and equipment fit the worker? size, weight, height, physical and mental health factors to be taken into account. What are the workers capabilities to carry out the task? Can the worker maneuver the trolley, lift the goods on and off?.

Environment

The work environment, is it busy, fast paced, is the floor level, what are the hazards ahead to reach the designated area the goods need transporting to? is the lighting sufficient? goods stored at height? size, weight height of goods compared to the equipment, are the goods hazardous, has a COSHH risk assessment been completed?. The size of the work area, is there room to maneuver, is the area clean and tidy?

Will the trolley be lifted by crane, is the LOLER certificate up to date, the employer must follow the LOLER regualtions.

The importance of using trolleys to reduce the risk

Using the correct equipment can reduce manual handling risks, while keeping the workplace flowing and increasing productivity.

Trolleys are designed to push and pull rather than lift and carry. By replacing the load from workers to wheels, the physical effort required is much lower.

Trolleys can help the workplace meet HSE Legislation.

Moving the strain of the load to wheels reduces the risk of injuries such as strains and musculoskeletal disorders.

Long shifts, repetitive manual handling and working with heavy loads can lead to fatigue and reduced physical and mental health by loading the goods onto a manual handling trolley allows workers to safely transport bulky, heavy, hazardous goods such as tools and awkward shaped items.

keeping the load secure and stable during transport reduces the risk of goods falling leading to spillages, fire or explosion risks, contamination and broken goods.

Clear visibility to identify oncoming hazards helps to reduce slips and trips. Trolleys can be safely stopped and can store items securely until the task is completed leaving the hands free when needed.

Specific trolleys can be attached to cranes to lift heavy goods or to reach difficult areas safely working within the law.

Trolleys are available with steps attached to reach items stored high this helps to prevent falls from heights. The steps are kept with the trolley at all times allowing the worker access to the correct equipment for the task.

Bespoke custom designed and built trolleys are designed to match the workplace tasks and fit the work forces ergonomic capabilities. Height, weight , size of the trolley determines workers physical capabilities to carry out tasks. A big heavy trolley can hold more items, but is difficult to control. A smaller lighter trolley is easier to control but will hold less items.

Summary

Manual handling trolleys have may benefits in the workplace:

Help to meet HSE Legislation

Reduce risk of injury

Prevent fatigue and decline in physical and mental health

Help prevent spillages and contamination of hazardous goods

Improve workforce ergonomics

Increase productivity

specific trolleys lifted by crane

At Breg Products we have standard trolleys available on our website

Our customer design and build service is available with site visits.

We love to talk trolleys!