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Manual handling awareness test

A quick refresher on safe lifting, then a 10-question quiz to check what you have taken in. Handy before a warehouse, factory or driving role where you will be moving loads by hand.

Practice and awareness only. This is a self-check quiz for fun and to refresh the basics. It is not an accredited qualification and it does not replace proper manual handling training from your employer, which is what a workplace actually requires. Always follow your own site's risk assessments and instructions.

The basics, in two minutes

Manual handling means moving or supporting a load by hand or bodily force: lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying. Getting it wrong is one of the most common causes of workplace injury, and back problems can stay with you for years. The good news is that the basics are simple.

The law: the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

In the UK, manual handling at work is covered by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, usually shortened to MHOR. They ask employers to follow a simple order of priorities: avoid hazardous manual handling where it is reasonably practicable, assess any that cannot be avoided, and reduce the risk of injury as far as possible.

Assess the lift with TILE

When you size up a lift, run through TILE. It stands for Task, Individual, Load and Environment.

  • Task

    How is the load being moved? Is there twisting, stooping, reaching, long distances or repetitive lifting?

  • Individual

    Who is doing the lift? Their strength, health, training and whether they need help all matter.

  • Load

    How heavy, bulky, sharp, hot or unstable is it? Is it hard to grip or does the weight shift?

  • Environment

    What is around you? Floor condition, space, lighting, steps, obstacles and the weather if outdoors.

Safe lifting technique

  1. Plan the lift. Know where the load is going and check your route is clear before you pick it up.
  2. Get a stable base. Feet roughly shoulder-width apart, one foot slightly forward for balance.
  3. Bend the knees, not the back. Lower yourself by bending your knees and hips and keep your back in its natural curve.
  4. Keep the load close. Hug it in to your body, around waist height. The further out it is, the more strain on your back.
  5. Lead with your head. Look ahead and keep your head up as you begin to lift.
  6. Do not twist. To change direction, move your feet and turn your whole body rather than twisting your spine.
  7. Do not overreach or take too much. Never lift more than you can comfortably manage.
  8. Get help or use an aid. For heavy or awkward loads, do a team lift or use a trolley, sack truck or pallet truck.

Test yourself

Ten questions, one right answer each. The pass mark is 8 out of 10. Pick an answer for every question, then mark them to see your score and where you went wrong.

  1. Which regulations set the main rules for manual handling at work in the UK?
  2. In a manual handling assessment, what does TILE stand for?
  3. When you lift a load up from the floor, you should:
  4. Where should you hold the load while lifting and carrying it?
  5. You need to turn to put a load down while carrying it. You should:
  6. Under the regulations, what should an employer try to do first?
  7. Before you lift a heavy or awkward load, the first thing to do is:
  8. A load is too heavy for you to lift safely on your own. You should:
  9. What is a stable base position for lifting?
  10. Which of these increases your risk of a manual handling injury?

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