Manual handling policy: examples
See examples of manual handling policies from primary, secondary and special schools, as well as a local authority. Find guidance too on what to include in your policy from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
- Primary schools
- Secondary school
- Special schools
- Local authority example
- Include these key elements in your policy
Primary schools
St Andrew's Church of England (CE) Primary School in Preston has a manual handling policy on its website. It:
- Distinguishes between load handling and people handling
- Outlines the school's arrangements for training and risk assessments
- States the responsibilities of management and employees
Carlisle & Hampton Hill Federation, comprised of an infant and a junior school in London, has a manual handling policy that covers:
- Common manual handling activities in school
- How to assess a task for safety, including questions to ask
- Example control measures
- Guidance on safe lifting
Secondary school
Wexham School in Berkshire has a manual handling section in its health and safety policy manual (see 'HS policy manual'). It outlines:
- What the typical risks in school are
- When manual handling assessments are to be carried out
- How to reduce the risk of injury
- Considerations for the moving and handling of people
Special schools
Riverside School in London has a manual handling policy (hover over the 'Safety' menu option to view), explaining the:
- Responsibility of the manual handling co-ordinator
- Type of actions that can cause injury
- Rules for safe manual handling (in appendix 1)
The Federation of Cherry Oak School and Victoria School in Birmingham has a manual handling policy. It outlines:
- Key principles
- Responsibilities of senior managers, employees and key trainers
- That in genuine emergency situations, the regulation of manual handling tasks does not apply
Local authority example
Kent County Council has published a manual handling policy and procedures for staff in all of its schools.
It covers:
- Roles and responsibilities
- Risk assessments
- Training
- Equipment
- Monitoring of accidents and incidents
Include these key elements in your policy
- A statement of your commitment to managing the risks associated with moving and handling people and loads
- Who is responsible for what
- Your risk assessment and action planning processes
- A commitment to introduce measures to reduce the risk
- Training arrangements
- Arrangements for providing and maintaining handling equipment
- How you'll monitor compliance and review your policy
- How staff can report pain and injuries
Find further guidance on moving and handling from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
