What is an operation under the Manual Handling Regulations?

An employee has won his claim against his employer, RCO Support Services, that laying grit on an icy surface is an activity under the Manual Handbling Operations Regulations 1992. The Court concluded that as the activity falls under the regulations, the employer should have taken steps to avoid the risks.

Leslie King was an employee of RCO Support Services Ltd, a sub-contractor, when he slipped and injured himself while laying grit on an icy coach park. Mr King claimed for damages against RCO, his employer, and against Yorkshire Traction Co Ltd, the owner of the site where he was employed. His claim had initially been dismissed.

The Court of Appeal said that the judge had wrongly ruled that the operation did not fall under the manual handling regulations, but upheld that the site owner had not retained control over the project and so was not liable under health and safety legislation. The Court said that there was a clear risk that Mr Leslie might tread on an ungritted section.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 give employers a statutory duty to take practical steps to avoid the risk arising from certain operations.
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