Manual Handling, Vibration & Noise

1) How are employees made aware of the hazards associated with manual handling?

2) Has any training regarding manual handling and safe lifting techniques been carried out?

3) Have tasks requiring manual handling been identified?

4) Have risk assessments associated with manual handling activities been:<br>Carried out and where appropriate have employees been:<br>Trained and informed of the outcomes of assessments?

5) Have all controls identified by the risk assessment been implemented?

6) Are mechanical aids / equipment i.e. hoists, telehandlers, wheel barrows, sack barrows and other plant or equipment used so that manual lifting and handling of heavy or bulky objects is kept to a minimum?

7) If any of the above are used , are they certificated and subject to a regime of inspection and checking?

8) Are materials (e.g. cement bag) ordered in sizes which can be lifted safely when on site?

9) How is the lifting and installation of kerbs carried out?<br>a) Are suitable mechanical methods used?

10) How are gas cylinders loaded, unloaded and transported around site?

11) During manual handling activities, are ground conditions appropriate and is good visibility maintained at all times?

1) Are risk assessments carried out and do they include the use of vibrating equipment and the precautions to be taken to reduce the risk?

2) Have individuals who use vibrating equipment been identified if so:- have they been informed of the associated risk?

3) Is new equipment assessed prior to purchase?<br>a) If so are these assessments used as a selection criterion?

4) Is new equipment purchased in line with a company standard?

5) Does the purchase policy take account of vibration along with other health & safety issued?<br>a) And does the equipment comply with British and European Standards?

6) Is current equipment maintained according to manufacturers instructions and are records of maintenance retained and available?

7) Is the equipment that is hires of a similar specification to that which is purchased and are checks carried out to ensure that the equipment meets the required specification?

8) Is work with vibrating equipment limited as far as reasonably practicable?

9) Where the potential exists for exposure limits could be exceeded, have measures been put in place to ensure adequate rest periods between operating vibrating equipment?

10) Is there a Health Surveillance program from monitoring exposure to vibration?<br>a) If so has an annual HAV's vibration questionnaire been issued to the relevant employees?<br>b) Are completed questionnaires returned to Occupational Health Adviser (Nurse)?<br>c) And where appropriate is a medical examination undertaken using the Stockholm scale?

11) In order to filter out individuals likely to be susceptible to HAV's, is Health Screening carried out prior to, recruitment, Internal transfer?

12) Where HAV's is diagnosed are managers informed by the Medical Advisor of actions required?<br>a) And of any recommended restrictions for limited exposure implemented?<br>b) Are RIDDOR forms completed and forwarded to the Enforcing Authority?

13) Are employees who use vibrating equipment trained (Vibration Training Package)?<br>a) If so doe the training extend to include their managers?<br>b) Are training records retained?<br>c) Are they kept up to date?<br>d) And is refresher training carried out at three yearly intervals?

14) Are existing and new employees who may be exposed to work involving the use of vibrating equipment made aware of Vibration Management Procedure?<br>a) And the purpose and content of health surveillance programme?

1) Have all activities / plant which may affect hearing been identified?

2) Have noise assessments for these activities been carried out by a competent person using calibrated equipment and record maintained?

3) Has the information relating to these and the hazard of noise been communicated to the workforce and local residents who may be affected?

4) Could any of the sources of noise be eliminated or reduced?

5) Has suitable hearing protection been provided, it is worn and is it compatible with other items of PPE?

6) Are signs posted in a prominent place to warn of the danger of high noise areas?

7) Are breakers and other plant or machinery fitted with silencers / mufflers?

8) Are barriers erected to reduce the spread of noise?

9) Is work sequenced to minimize the number of people exposed to noise?

10) Are others not involved with the work kept away from noisy areas?

11) Have alternative less noisy activities / plant been considered?