2. Recognising the risks

Performing any handling task may pose a risk to health and safety. It's important to recognise those risks that are avoidable and those that aren't. Where tasks have unavoidable risks we must consider how to mitigate or moderate them, for example; the task may require specialist training, help from others and or equipment.

Here are some questions to help you identify risks.

• Does the task involve handling or moving, could you avoid doing it?
• Do you need someone need to help you or a team of people?
• Is it time bound; needs to be completed within a period of time?
• Does it need to be completed in a certain way?
• What physical aspects do you need to consider and how demanding is it?
• Does it involve awkward postures, such as, twisting, turning, reaching upwards, bending, pushing, pulling, stooping, repeated handling, sudden start or stopping to move the load?
• Can you stop to rest or stretch or change position?
• Can it be done in stages?
• Do you need equipment or personal protective equipment?
• Do you need specific training?
• Is there anything you need to do prior to your task being successful?
• What is the worse thing that can happen and how can this be reduced?

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