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As part of the government’s drive to reduce business red tape, the Health & Safety Executive is currently consulting on the future of the guidance issued covering manual handling regulations. The guidance sets out the duties of employers and employees in preventing short and long term injuries and accidents when handling heavy objects.
Simultaneously, the HSE is also reviewing the guidance on display screen equipment such as computer screens.
Despite one document being primarily for manual workers and the other for desk workers, the HSE is proposing to put these two documents together.
In its response to the consultation, Ucatt has said that this would be a retrograde step. It said: “Merging documents with guidance on display screen equipment will make the issue look less relevant to both employers and workers. This must not happen, considering the extent of musculoskeletal disorders in the construction sector as a result of constant manual handling activities.”
Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy said: “These proposals are madness and make no sense whatsoever. The existing manual handling guidance is an excellent straightforward document. Altering or merging the guidance will lead to confusion and result in employers increasingly ignoring the advice.”
Ucatt also fears that if the current manual handling guidance was merged, its length would be reduced, with important advice being cut.
The manual handling regulations are particularly important for construction workers. Long-term musculoskeletal injuries are a major factor in many construction workers being forced to leave the industry before they reach state pension age.
Mr Murphy added: “Workers suffer long-term damage and their bodies are crippled through lifting heavy objects. It beggars belief that anyone would consider it a good idea to confuse or weaken the advice which prevent this from occurring.”
The consultation closes on the 31st January.
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