The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, place specific duties on both employers and employees. The Regulations require employers to avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable.
They also require employers to assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can't be avoided.
They also require employers to reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable.
The extent of the employer's duty to avoid manual handling or to reduce the risk of injury is determined by reference to what is "reasonably practicable". These obligations are satisfied if the employer can show that the cost of any further preventative steps would be grossly disproportionate to the benefit that their introduction would bring.
The Regulations also impose duties on employers whose employees carry out manual handling away from the employer's premises. In these circumstances, where possible, the employer should liaise with the controller of the premises. Even though the workplace may be outwith the employer's control, the task and the load along with the training, will still remain within the employer's control so it will still be possible to establish a safe system of work.
Many workers are self-employed for tax and national insurance purposes. However, for the purposes of health and safety, these workers are still regarded as employees and therefore the employer must make specific provisions for this category of workers.