QQI Manual Handling key terms

The primary Irish statute setting out the general duties of employers and employees to protect safety, health and welfare at work, and providing for enforcement, improvement notices and prosecution.

The part of the 2007 Regulations that specifically addresses manual handling of loads, requiring avoidance, risk assessment, reduction of risk and training for employees exposed to handling risks.

A legal test balancing the likelihood and severity of harm against the cost, time and difficulty of the measures needed to eliminate or reduce that risk; it defines the standard of duty owed.

The obligations placed on an employer to provide a safe workplace, safe equipment, safe systems of work, instruction, training and supervision, and to prepare and revise a written safety statement.

The obligations on an employee to take reasonable care for their own and others' safety, to use equipment properly, to report defects and hazards, and not to be under the influence of an intoxicant.

A written document in which the employer identifies the hazards, assesses the risks and records the control measures and resources for safety, health and welfare at the place of work.

A structured examination of a handling task that considers the load, the individual, the task, the environment and other factors in order to identify risk and decide on controls.

A memory aid for the five areas reviewed in a manual handling assessment: Task, Individual, Load, Environment and Other factors such as organisation of work or protective equipment.

The order in which risk controls should be applied, starting with eliminating the hazard, then substituting or using mechanical aids, before relying on administrative measures and training.

The bony spine of stacked vertebrae running from the skull to the pelvis, providing support, protection for the spinal cord and attachment for muscles, with regions named cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal.

A cartilage pad between adjacent vertebrae with a soft inner nucleus and tough outer rings, which absorbs shock and allows movement; it can bulge or herniate under combined compression and bending.

The five lower vertebrae of the back that carry most of the body's load and allow bending and twisting, making this region the most common site of handling-related injury.

The squeezing force transmitted along the spine when a load is held or lifted, increased by poor posture, heavier loads and holding the load away from the body.

The horizontal distance between a load and the body's pivot point, such as the lower back; lengthening it multiplies the effective force the back muscles must resist.

Bending a joint or the trunk forward, as when stooping to a load; sustained or loaded flexion raises stress on discs and back muscles compared with a neutral spine.

Rotating the trunk or shoulders while handling a load, a recognised risk factor because it combines shear and compression forces on the spine and reduces stability.

The mass of the object being handled and the point at which it balances; a heavy or off-centre load is harder to control and places greater strain on the handler.

A load whose weight is unevenly distributed, so that it pulls to one side and forces the handler to compensate with uneven muscle effort and increased spinal loading.

Repeated lifting, carrying or moving of loads without adequate recovery, which accumulates fatigue and increases the likelihood of musculoskeletal injury over a shift.

A posture in which the natural curves of the back are maintained and the load is kept close to the body, minimising stress on discs, joints and muscles.

A planned method of handling that includes assessing the load, positioning the feet, bending the knees, keeping the load close, avoiding twisting and lifting smoothly with the legs.

The area between mid-thigh and mid-chest height close to the body where a person can handle loads with the greatest control and least strain on the spine.

Equipment such as a sack trolley, pallet truck, hoist or conveyor used to move loads without manual effort, and which must be suitable, maintained and used by trained staff.

The routine checking of handling equipment before and during use for damage, wear or defects, with faults reported and the item taken out of service until repaired.

Handling a load by two or more people working under one nominated leader, with agreed signals and a planned route, used when a load is too heavy or awkward for one person.

The clear verbal commands or agreed hand signals used before and during a team lift so that all handlers start, move and set down the load together.

The design of work, equipment and workplace layout to fit the capabilities and limitations of the person, reducing awkward postures, excessive force and repetitive strain.

The arrangement of work surfaces, storage, tools and access routes so that handling is minimised and frequently used items are within easy reach and at suitable heights.

Organising work with breaks, task rotation and realistic rates so that muscles recover from fatigue and cumulative strain during a shift is limited.

An injury or condition affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves or the spine, often caused or worsened by manual handling, awkward posture or repetitive work.

The prompt recording of an incident or injury to the employer, including details of what happened, the task involved and any immediate action taken, so it can be investigated and prevented.

A system of ongoing health checks or monitoring for employees exposed to handling risks, used to detect early signs of injury and trigger review of controls.

Maintaining accurate, accessible records of risk assessments, training, equipment checks, accidents and health surveillance, supporting legal compliance and evidence of control measures.

Instruction and practical practice given to employees on the risks of handling, correct technique, use of aids and reporting procedures, refreshed periodically and recorded.