Getting to Grips: page 6

Problems to look for when making an assessment

Ways of reducing the risk of injury

• ■ require unusual capability, eg above-average strength or agility?
• ■ endanger those with a health problem or learning/physical disability?
• ■ endanger pregnant women?
• ■ call for special information or training?

• ■ pay particular attention to those who have a physical weakness?
• ■ take extra care of pregnant workers?
• ■ give your employees more information, eg about the range of tasks they are likely to face?
• ■ provide more training (see ‘What about training?’) Get advice from an occupational health advisor if you need to.

• ■ is the device the correct type for the job?
• ■ is it well maintained?
• ■ are the wheels on the device suited to the floor surface?
• ■ do the wheels run freely?
• ■ is the handle height between the waist and shoulders?
• ■ are the handle grips in good order and comfortable?
• ■ are there any brakes? If so, do they work?

• ■ provide equipment that is more suitable for the task?
• ■ carry out planned preventive maintenance to prevent problems?
• ■ change the wheels, tyres and/or flooring so that equipment moves easily?
• ■ provide better handles and handle grips?
• ■ make the brakes easier to use, reliable and effective?

• ■ is the work repetitive or boring?
• ■ is work machine or system-paced?
• ■ do workers feel the demands of the work are excessive?
• ■ have workers little control of the work and working methods?
• ■ is there poor communication between managers and employees?

• ■ change tasks to reduce the monotony?
• ■ make more use of workers’ skills?
• ■ make workloads and deadlines more achievable?
• ■ encourage good communication and teamwork?
• ■ involve workers in decisions?
• ■ provide better training and information?