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Doing a push/pull risk assessment

How do I know if I need to assess the risk in more detail?

Look at the Appendix to guidance booklet L23 'Manual Handling'[79]. This sets out ways to help you decide how detailed your pushing and pulling risk assessments need to be:

  • A simple risk filter based on you assessing the posture of the person carrying out the task. If the person can walk upright while pushing or pulling without having to exert much force, then the task is very likely to be low risk.
  • A more detailed assessment using the RAPP tool[80]. You may choose to use other tools not published by HSE instead.
  • A full risk assessment taking account of all the factors in Schedule 1 of MHOR. This is needed when there are risk factors that the earlier stages do not address. To ensure that the key risk factors from pushing and pulling operations are identified, HSE has produced a pushing and pulling risk assessment (PDF) [81] checklist. There is also an example checklist (PDF) [82] to help with your risk assessments.

Measuring pushing and pulling forces

No column header Men Women
Guideline figures for stopping or starting a load 20 kg (ie about 200 Newtons) 15 kg (ie about 150 Newtons)
Guideline figures for keeping a load in motion 10 kg (ie about 100 Newtons) 7 kg (ie about 70 Newtons)

If you decide you need to measure the actual forces required to move your loads, you can compare your results to the guideline figures in the table. If your measurements are greater than these figures, you should look for ways to reduce the effort required. (Also see paragraphs 127-132 in L23.)

The force required will increase if the conditions are not perfect, eg if the wheels are not in the right position, or the device is poorly maintained. Moving loads over soft or uneven surfaces can require greater forces. Using larger wheels could offset this. Pushing and pulling forces will also increase if a ramp or slope is to be negotiated.

There is no specific limit to the distance a load can be pushed or pulled as long as there are sufficient breaks for rest or recovery.

Remember: the use of these guidelines does not affect your duty to avoid or reduce the risk of injury where this is reasonably practicable. The guideline figures should not be regarded as weight limits or approved figures for safe pushing and pulling operations.

How do I measure the force?

Forces to keep loads moving are generally less than starting forces, so you need to measure the smallest force needed to start the load moving. If you apply more force the load will accelerate more quickly.  It is easy to use more force than you need to, so you need to be careful when making measurements.

Newtons (N) are used to measure forces in any direction, as opposed to kilograms which measure how much effort is needed to lift something upwards. As a guide it takes about 10N to lift a kilogram.

The force needed to move a load could be measured using a spring balance, similar to those used in fisheries and butchers, by attaching the balance to the loads handle, pulling the load and noting down the figures.

Accurate measurements are best made with a specialised electronic dynamometer. These can record the peak force used and can be connected to a computer. They can vary in price depending on their functions.

When making measurements with a dynamometer make sure that all the pushing or pulling force goes through the dynamometer. Most dynamometers only measure force in one direction, so you need to apply the force horizontally through it. Think about how you position the load and the surface it is on, especially if the surface is rough. Make several measurements to ensure you get consistent results. Use the smallest values that just get the load moving to compare with the figures in the table.

Link URLs in this page

  1. MSDshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/msds.htm
  2. Back painhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/backpain/index.htm
  3. Upper limb disordershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/index.htm
  4. Lower limb disorders https://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/lld/index.htm
  5. Display screen equipment (DSE)https://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/dse/index.htm
  6. Manual handling at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/manual-handling/index.htm
  7. Overview - MSD toolkithttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/toolkit.htm
  8. Overview - MAC toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/index.htm
  9. Introduction to MAChttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/introduction.htm
  10. Developmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/development.htm
  11. Score sheethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/scoresheet.htm
  12. Overview - Liftinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/liftintro.htm
  13. Lifting from pallet videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/liftvid1.htm
  14. Lifting creels of wire videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/liftvid2.htm
  15. Lifting control measureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/guidance01a.htm
  16. Overview - Carryinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/carryintro.htm
  17. Carrying from conveyor videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/carryvid1.htm
  18. Carrying task in pastry factory videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/carryvid2.htm
  19. Carrying control measureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/guidance02a.htm
  20. Overview - Team handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/teamintro.htm
  21. Team handling pallet videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/teamvid1.htm
  22. Team handling container videohttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/teamvid2.htm
  23. Team handling control measureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/guidance03a.htm
  24. Psychosocial risk factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/psychosocial.htm
  25. Individual differenceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/individuals.htm
  26. MAC assessment tipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/tips.htm
  27. MAC FAQhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/faq.htm
  28. Overview - V-MAChttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/index.htm
  29. Advantages and limitationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/1-advantages-limitations.htm
  30. What you need to knowhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/2-what-you-need-to-know-before.htm
  31. How to use the V-MAChttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/3-how-to-use.htm
  32. Which jobs and workers to assesshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/4-which-jobs-workers-to-assess.htm
  33. Entering datahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/5-entering-data.htm
  34. What does the V-MAC tell you?https://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/6-what-does-vmac-tell-you.htm
  35. Values in the summary tablehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/7-summary-tables.htm
  36. Recording and usinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/8-recording-and-using.htm
  37. Worked exampleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/9-worked-examples.htm
  38. V-MAC FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/mac/vmac/10-faqs.htm
  39. Overview - ART toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/index.htm
  40. What is the ART toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/whatis.htm
  41. Overview - Learning to use the ART toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/learning.htm
  42. Preparationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/preparation.htm
  43. Risk factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/riskfactors.htm
  44. Observationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/observation.htm
  45. Overview - Making an assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/assessment.htm
  46. Task descriptionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/task.htm
  47. Overview - Assessment guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/assessguide.htm
  48. A. Frequency and repetition of movementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/freqrep.htm
  49. B. Forcehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/forceassessment.htm
  50. C. Awkward postureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/awkpostures.htm
  51. D. Additional factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/addfactors.htm
  52. Score sheethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/score.htm
  53. A walkthroughhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/walkthrough.htm
  54. Overview - Try it outhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/try.htm
  55. Book bindinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/bookbinding.htm
  56. Jogging sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/jogging.htm
  57. Collating papershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/papers.htm
  58. Whisky carton assemblyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/cartonassembly.htm
  59. Croissant curlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/croissant.htm
  60. Overview - Analysis and actionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/analysis.htm
  61. What the scores meanhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/scoresmean.htm
  62. Analysing task rotationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/rotation.htm
  63. Overview - Taking actionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/action.htm
  64. Repetitionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/repetition.htm
  65. Forcehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/force.htm
  66. Posturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/posture.htm
  67. Durationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/duration.htm
  68. Physical environmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/environment.htm
  69. Psychosocial issueshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/psychosocial.htm
  70. Art Tool Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/resources.htm
  71. Frequently asked questionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/uld/art/faq.htm
  72. Overview - RAPP toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/pushpull/index.htm
  73. Push/pull riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/pushpull/risks.htm
  74. Push/pull risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/pushpull/assessment.htm
  75. The lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/legislation.htm
  76. Health monitoringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/health-monitoring.htm
  77. Workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/workers-msds.htm
  78. Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/resources.htm
  79. L23 'Manual Handling'https://books.hse.gov.uk//hse/public/saleproduct.jsf?catalogueCode=9780717666539
  80. RAPP toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg478.htm
  81. risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/assets/docs/ppchecklists.pdf
  82. example checklisthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MSd/assets/docs/ppexample.pdf
  83. Managing upper limb disorders in the workplacehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg171.pdf
  84. Manual handling assessment chartshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg383.htm
  85. Risk assessment of pushing and pulling (RAPP) toolhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg478.htm
  86. Making the best use of lifting and handling aids https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg398.pdf
  87. Working with DSE equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf

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Updated 2023-04-25