How to Record a Manual Handling Operations Video for Your Health and Safety System

Step 1: Set the Scene and Context

Your Manual Handling Operations video needs to demonstrate that you have comprehensive arrangements for identifying, assessing, and controlling the risks associated with manual handling activities across your organisation. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require you to ensure that all manual handling operations are identified and addressed according to its requirements.

Why Manual Handling Matters for Your Health and Safety System

Manual handling injuries—particularly musculoskeletal disorders—represent a significant proportion of workplace injuries and can result in long-term health problems for affected employees. Your video should establish why proper manual handling arrangements are critical to your operation.

Legal Requirement

Explain on camera that managing manual handling risks is a legal duty. You might say:

"The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require us to ensure that all manual handling operations are identified and addressed. This builds on the general risk assessment requirements under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. We take these obligations seriously because manual handling injuries can have lasting impacts on our employees' health and quality of life."

Scope of Manual Handling

Clarify what activities constitute manual handling:

"Manual handling includes any activity involving pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. This covers a wide range of activities in our workplace, from moving equipment and materials to handling products and supplies. Our arrangements ensure all these activities are properly assessed and controlled."

Hierarchy of Controls

Emphasise the approach required by the regulations:

"The regulations establish a clear hierarchy: first, we avoid manual handling operations where reasonably practicable. Where we cannot avoid them, we assess the operations and reduce the risk of injury through mechanical means or other suitable measures. This hierarchy guides all our manual handling arrangements."

Setting Up Your Recording Location

Choose a location that demonstrates your manual handling controls in action. Consider recording in an area where manual handling commonly occurs, near your mechanical handling equipment, or in a training area where you can demonstrate proper techniques. Having examples of mechanical aids and assessment documentation available will help illustrate your arrangements.

Step 2: Plan What to Record vs Write

Your manual handling arrangements include elements that work well on video and others better suited to written documentation. Planning this split ensures your video is engaging while maintaining complete records.

What Works Best on Video

Examination of Activities

Record yourself explaining how responsible persons identify manual handling requirements:

"Responsible persons examine all activities carried out by staff and establish the requirements for manual handling operations. This means systematically looking at every task to identify where manual handling occurs and what risks are involved."

Avoidance Strategies

Demonstrate your approach to eliminating manual handling:

"As far as is reasonably practicable, we avoid manual handling operations altogether. Let me show you examples of how we have redesigned processes to eliminate manual handling that was previously required..."

Mechanical Aids Demonstration

Show the mechanical means you use to reduce risks:

"Where manual handling cannot be avoided, we reduce the risk of injury through mechanical means. Here is the equipment we use—let me demonstrate how these aids reduce the physical demands on our employees..."

Training Overview

Demonstrate recognised handling techniques:

"Our training includes recognised handling techniques aimed at reducing the risk of muscular injuries. Let me show you the key principles we teach our employees for safe manual handling..."

Monitoring Process

Walk through how you check that controls remain effective:

"We monitor manual handling operations to ensure the control measures we have adopted remain effective and are followed by employees. Here is how we conduct these monitoring checks..."

What Works Best as Written Documentation

Manual Handling Assessments

Keep detailed written assessments for each manual handling operation, documenting the task, the load, the working environment, individual capability considerations, and the control measures implemented.

Training Records

Maintain documented evidence of manual handling training for each employee, including the techniques covered, assessment of competence, and refresher training dates.

Health Surveillance Records

Record any health issues reported by employees related to manual handling, along with investigation findings and actions taken.

Equipment Maintenance Logs

Document maintenance and inspection records for mechanical handling equipment.

Incident Records

Keep records of any manual handling incidents or near misses, along with investigation outcomes and preventive actions.

Explaining Your Documentation System on Video

You can reference your written records without reading them out in full:

"Every manual handling operation that cannot be avoided has a documented assessment. These assessments are suitably documented and kept accessible for review. I will show you how we complete and maintain these records..."

Step 3: Explain the Core Rules and Requirements

Your video should clearly communicate the fundamental rules governing manual handling in your organisation. Walk through each requirement methodically so viewers understand their obligations.

Responsible Persons Examining Activities

Explain how you identify manual handling requirements:

"Responsible persons examine all activities carried out by staff and establish the requirements for manual handling operations. This is not a one-time exercise—whenever we introduce new activities or change existing processes, we examine them for manual handling requirements."

Describe the examination process:

"The examination looks at every task to identify where pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, or supporting occurs. We consider the frequency, duration, and physical demands of each activity to establish what manual handling controls are needed."

Avoiding Manual Handling Where Practicable

Emphasise avoidance as the first priority:

"As far as is reasonably practicable, manual handling operations shall be avoided. This is our first line of defence—if we can eliminate the need for manual handling altogether, we remove the risk entirely."

Give examples of avoidance:

"We achieve avoidance through process redesign, changing delivery arrangements, reorganising storage, or mechanising operations. For example, where we previously required manual lifting of [specific items], we have now introduced [specific solution] that eliminates the manual handling requirement."

Assessing Operations That Cannot Be Avoided

Explain the assessment requirement:

"Where manual handling cannot be avoided, the operations shall be assessed and the risk of injury reduced by the use of mechanical means or the provision of other suitable means. Assessment is mandatory for any manual handling that remains after we have exhausted avoidance options."

Describe what assessments cover:

"Assessments include any areas where pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, supporting, and similar activities are part of the expected work. We consider the task itself, the load being handled, the working environment, and individual capability."

Documenting Assessments

Emphasise the documentation requirement:

"Manual handling assessments shall be suitably documented. This creates a record of the risks identified, the control measures implemented, and provides evidence of our compliance with the regulations."

Explain what documentation includes:

"Our documented assessments record the specific operation, the hazards identified, the risk level, the control measures in place, who is responsible for implementation, and when the assessment should be reviewed."

Communicating Findings Through Training

Explain how you share assessment outcomes:

"The findings of all assessments and the control measures to be adopted shall be fully communicated to respective employees via information, instruction, and training protocols. Employees must understand the risks and know how to work safely."

Describe training content:

"Training includes recognised handling techniques aimed at reducing the risk of muscular injuries. This covers proper posture, positioning, grip, and movement patterns that protect the musculoskeletal system during manual handling activities."

Monitoring Control Measures

Explain your monitoring arrangements:

"Manual handling operations will be monitored to ensure the control measures adopted remain effective and are followed by employees. Controls that are not followed, or that prove ineffective, leave employees exposed to injury risk."

Describe monitoring methods:

"Monitoring includes observing work practices, checking that mechanical aids are being used correctly, reviewing incident data, and speaking with employees about any concerns they have."

Encouraging Health Issue Reporting

Emphasise employee involvement:

"Employees will be encouraged to report health issues associated with their work, which will include manual handling operations. Early reporting allows us to investigate and intervene before problems become serious."

Explain investigation and response:

"All reported instances will be investigated, with the aim to introduce protocols to reduce the employee's exposure to further risk. We take every report seriously and act on the findings."

Step 4: Demonstrate or Walk Through the Process

This section guides viewers through how your manual handling arrangements work in practice. Use real examples and scenarios to bring the procedures to life.

Walking Through Activity Examination

Demonstrate how responsible persons examine activities:

"Let me walk you through how we examine activities for manual handling requirements. I am going to look at [specific work area or process]. The first step is observing what physical tasks are involved."

Show the identification process:

"I can see that this process involves [describe manual handling activities observed]. Each of these represents a manual handling operation that needs to be addressed. I document what I have observed and then move to the next stage—considering whether these operations can be avoided."

Explain the decision-making:

"For each operation identified, I ask: can we eliminate this manual handling? Can we redesign the process? Can we automate or mechanise? Only when avoidance is not reasonably practicable do we move to assessment and risk reduction."

Demonstrating Avoidance Solutions

Show examples of how you have eliminated manual handling:

"Here is an example of manual handling avoidance in action. Previously, employees had to manually [describe previous manual handling]. We identified this as a significant risk and looked for ways to eliminate it."

Demonstrate the solution:

"The solution was [describe avoidance measure]. As you can see, the manual handling has been completely eliminated. Employees no longer need to push, pull, lift, or carry loads for this operation."

Explain the thought process:

"Avoidance often requires investment or process change, but the benefits in terms of reduced injury risk and improved efficiency typically outweigh the costs. We always explore avoidance before accepting that manual handling is necessary."

Demonstrating Mechanical Aids

Show the mechanical means you provide:

"Where manual handling cannot be avoided, we reduce risk through mechanical means. Let me show you the equipment we use. This [specific equipment] is designed to [explain function]."

Demonstrate proper use:

"Correct use of this equipment is essential. Watch how I position it, engage the mechanism, and move the load. Notice that my body is not taking the weight—the equipment is doing the work."

Explain availability and maintenance:

"This equipment is available whenever employees need it for these tasks. It is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure it remains safe and effective. Employees are trained on its use before they are expected to operate it."

Walking Through Assessment Completion

Demonstrate completing a manual handling assessment:

"Let me show you how we complete a manual handling assessment. This operation involves [describe operation]. Since we cannot reasonably avoid it, we must assess it and implement controls."

Walk through assessment elements:

"The assessment considers the task—what movements are involved, how often, for how long. It considers the load—weight, size, shape, stability, grip. It considers the environment—space, flooring, temperature, lighting. And it considers individual factors—physical capability, training, health conditions."

Show documentation:

"I record all this information in the assessment document. Here I note the specific risks identified and the control measures we will implement. The assessment is dated and signed, and I set a review date to ensure it remains current."

Demonstrating Training Delivery

Show how you train employees on handling techniques:

"Training on recognised handling techniques is essential for reducing muscular injury risk. Let me demonstrate what we cover in our training."

Demonstrate key techniques:

"The fundamental principles are: assess the load before lifting, plan your route, position your feet for stability, bend your knees rather than your back, keep the load close to your body, lift smoothly without jerking, and avoid twisting while carrying."

Show practical application:

"Now let me demonstrate these principles with an actual load. Watch my posture, my foot position, and how I keep the load close. This is what we teach employees and what we expect to see when monitoring their work."

Walking Through Monitoring

Demonstrate your monitoring process:

"Monitoring ensures our control measures are actually working. Here is how we conduct monitoring checks. I observe employees carrying out manual handling tasks and check that they are following the safe systems we have established."

Show what you look for:

"I am checking that mechanical aids are being used where provided, that handling techniques match what was trained, that the work area is set up correctly, and that employees are not taking shortcuts that increase risk."

Explain feedback and correction:

"If I observe practices that do not match our requirements, I intervene immediately. This is not about catching people out—it is about ensuring they stay safe. I discuss what I observed, explain the correct approach, and ensure they understand why it matters."

Walking Through Health Issue Investigation

Demonstrate how you handle reported health issues:

"When an employee reports a health issue that may be related to manual handling, we take it seriously and investigate. Let me walk you through our process."

Explain investigation steps:

"First, we speak with the employee to understand their symptoms and when they started. We review the manual handling tasks they perform and check whether our assessments and controls are adequate. We look for patterns—are other employees reporting similar issues?"

Show response actions:

"Based on the investigation, we introduce protocols to reduce the employee's exposure to further risk. This might mean modifying their duties, providing additional mechanical aids, adjusting workstation setup, or enhancing training. The goal is to prevent the problem from worsening and protect other employees from similar issues."

Step 5: Highlight Common Mistakes

Understanding common errors helps viewers avoid them. For each mistake, explain what goes wrong and how to prevent it.

Mistake 1: Failing to Identify All Manual Handling Operations

Signs this is happening: Manual handling assessments exist only for obvious operations like heavy lifting. Pushing, pulling, carrying, and supporting activities have been overlooked. Employees perform manual handling tasks that have never been assessed.

How to avoid it: Conduct systematic examination of all activities carried out by staff. Remember that manual handling includes any operation involving pushing, pulling, lifting, lowering, carrying, or supporting loads. Do not focus only on heavy items—repetitive handling of lighter loads can also cause injury.

Mistake 2: Not Exploring Avoidance Options Thoroughly

Signs this is happening: Manual handling is accepted as necessary without exploring alternatives. Assessments move straight to risk reduction without considering elimination. Mechanical solutions or process redesigns have not been considered.

How to avoid it: For every manual handling operation identified, genuinely explore whether it can be avoided. Consider process redesign, delivery arrangements, storage solutions, and mechanisation. Only accept that manual handling is necessary when avoidance options have been properly evaluated and found not reasonably practicable.

Mistake 3: Inadequate Assessment of Operations

Signs this is happening: Assessments are generic rather than specific to actual operations. Key factors like individual capability or environmental conditions are not considered. Assessments do not reflect how work is actually carried out.

How to avoid it: Conduct thorough assessments that consider the specific task, load, working environment, and individual capability. Observe actual work practices rather than relying on assumptions. Update assessments when conditions change.

Mistake 4: Not Documenting Assessments Properly

Signs this is happening: Assessments are conducted mentally but not recorded. Documentation is incomplete or difficult to locate. There is no audit trail showing what was assessed and what controls were implemented.

How to avoid it: Document all manual handling assessments in a consistent format. Include sufficient detail to show the assessment was thorough. Keep records organised and accessible for review, audit, or inspection.

Mistake 5: Providing Mechanical Aids Without Training

Signs this is happening: Equipment is available but employees do not know how to use it correctly. Mechanical aids are underused because employees lack confidence with them. Equipment is being misused in ways that could cause injury.

How to avoid it: Provide proper training on all mechanical handling equipment before employees are expected to use it. Include practical demonstration and supervised practice. Refresh training periodically and when new equipment is introduced.

Mistake 6: Training That Does Not Cover Recognised Techniques

Signs this is happening: Training focuses only on rules and procedures without practical technique instruction. Employees cannot demonstrate proper handling techniques when observed. Training materials do not include recognised methods for reducing muscular injury risk.

How to avoid it: Ensure training includes recognised handling techniques with practical demonstration and practice. Cover the fundamental principles of safe manual handling and allow employees to practice under supervision. Assess competence before allowing unsupervised work.

Mistake 7: Failing to Communicate Assessment Findings

Signs this is happening: Assessments are completed but employees are unaware of the findings. Control measures exist on paper but are not implemented in practice. Employees do not know what manual handling controls apply to their work.

How to avoid it: Fully communicate assessment findings and control measures to all affected employees. Use information, instruction, and training to ensure understanding. Check that employees can explain the controls that apply to their work.

Mistake 8: Not Monitoring Whether Controls Are Followed

Signs this is happening: Control measures are established but no one checks whether they are actually followed. Employees have reverted to unsafe practices without detection. Mechanical aids are available but not being used.

How to avoid it: Monitor manual handling operations regularly to ensure control measures remain effective and are followed. Include observation of actual work practices, not just paperwork review. Act promptly when monitoring reveals non-compliance.

Mistake 9: Discouraging Health Issue Reporting

Signs this is happening: Employees are reluctant to report symptoms for fear of consequences. Health issues are only discovered when they become serious. There is a culture of working through pain rather than reporting problems.

How to avoid it: Actively encourage employees to report health issues associated with their work. Make it clear that reporting is welcomed and will result in support, not blame. Respond constructively to all reports and communicate what actions have been taken.

Mistake 10: Not Investigating and Acting on Reported Issues

Signs this is happening: Health issues are reported but no investigation follows. The same problems recur because root causes are not addressed. Employees see no benefit from reporting because nothing changes.

How to avoid it: Investigate all reported health issues related to manual handling. Identify whether current controls are adequate and implement improvements where needed. Communicate back to employees about what has been done. Aim to reduce exposure and prevent recurrence.

Step 6: Summarise the Key Takeaways

Conclude your video by reinforcing the essential elements of your manual handling arrangements. This summary helps viewers remember the key points and understand their role in making the system work.

Recording Your Summary

Bring together the main themes:

"To summarise our manual handling arrangements: Responsible persons examine all activities carried out by staff and establish the requirements for manual handling operations. We identify every instance of pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, and supporting in our workplace."

Emphasise the hierarchy:

"Our first priority is avoidance—as far as is reasonably practicable, manual handling operations shall be avoided. Where we cannot avoid them, we assess the operations and reduce the risk of injury through mechanical means or other suitable controls."

Cover documentation and communication:

"All assessments are suitably documented, and the findings are fully communicated to employees through information, instruction, and training. Training includes recognised handling techniques aimed at reducing the risk of muscular injuries."

Reinforce monitoring:

"We monitor manual handling operations to ensure control measures remain effective and are followed by employees. This is not a one-time exercise—ongoing monitoring ensures our arrangements continue to protect our workforce."

Conclude with employee involvement:

"Employees are encouraged to report health issues associated with their work, including manual handling. All reported instances are investigated, with the aim to introduce protocols that reduce exposure to further risk."

Final Statement

End with a clear commitment:

"Manual handling injuries can have lasting impacts on health and quality of life. These arrangements ensure we identify all manual handling operations, avoid them where possible, assess and control those that remain, and continuously monitor our effectiveness. By following these arrangements consistently, we protect our employees from preventable musculoskeletal injuries."

Bringing It All Together

Your Manual Handling Operations video should demonstrate comprehensive arrangements for managing the risks associated with manual handling across your organisation. From the systematic examination of activities, through avoidance and risk reduction measures, to training on recognised techniques and ongoing monitoring, each element supports the overall goal of preventing manual handling injuries.

Remember that avoidance is always the first priority—manual handling operations should only be accepted when elimination is not reasonably practicable. Your video should reflect this hierarchy while showing robust assessment and control measures for operations that cannot be avoided.

The key elements to cover are:

• Activity examination: How responsible persons identify manual handling requirements
• Avoidance first: Eliminating manual handling where reasonably practicable
• Assessment: Evaluating operations that cannot be avoided
• Mechanical means: Reducing risk through equipment and aids
• Documentation: Recording assessments suitably
• Communication: Sharing findings through information, instruction, and training
• Recognised techniques: Training that reduces muscular injury risk
• Monitoring: Ensuring controls remain effective and are followed
• Health reporting: Encouraging employees to report issues
• Investigation: Acting on reports to reduce further exposure

By demonstrating each of these elements clearly, your video provides evidence of a functioning manual handling management system that meets your legal obligations under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and protects your workforce from musculoskeletal injuries.