Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, what is one requirement for employers?

The requirement for employers under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations is to avoid hazardous manual handling tasks as much as possible. This regulation emphasizes the importance of risk assessment and proactive measures in the workplace to mitigate the potential for injury among employees. By focusing on avoiding hazardous tasks, employers are encouraged to look for alternative methods of working, such as using machinery or redesigning tasks to minimize manual handling.

This approach is proactive in ensuring worker safety and health, placing the responsibility on employers to analyze the tasks being performed and find safer solutions. Addressing hazards before they cause harm is a fundamental principle of workplace safety, which these regulations aim to uphold.

Other potential choices, while related to workplace safety, do not align with the core intent of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations. For example, solely training employees on manual handling tasks does not alleviate the risks associated with manual handling itself. Similarly, stipulating that only physically fit workers be employed does not address the broader issue of hazardous tasks that pose risks to health, nor does conducting tasks without any assessment comply with safety regulations designed to protect workers.