Safe Pass Manual Handling Ireland 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What regulation specifically covers manual handling in Irish workplaces?
- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Chapter 4 (Correct answer)
- Roads Act 1993
- Planning Act 2000
- Food Safety Act 1998
Correct answer: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Chapter 4
Manual handling is covered under Chapter 4 of Part 2 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007.
Question 2: What should an employer do if manual handling cannot be avoided?
- Carry out a risk assessment and implement measures to reduce the risk of injury (Correct answer)
- Let workers figure it out themselves
- Ignore the risk if loads are under 10 kg
- Only provide verbal advice
Correct answer: Carry out a risk assessment and implement measures to reduce the risk of injury
If manual handling cannot be avoided, the employer must carry out a specific manual handling risk assessment and implement measures to reduce the risk as far as practicable.
Question 3: What is repetitive strain injury (RSI)?
- Pain and damage caused by repetitive movements or sustained awkward postures (Correct answer)
- An injury from a single heavy lift
- A type of fall injury
- A burn from chemicals
Correct answer: Pain and damage caused by repetitive movements or sustained awkward postures
RSI covers a range of conditions caused by repetitive movements, excessive force, or sustained awkward postures, affecting muscles, tendons, and nerves, typically in the hands, wrists, and arms.
Question 4: Why is team lifting more hazardous than individual lifting?
- Coordination is difficult and the load sharing is often unequal (Correct answer)
- It is always safer than individual lifting
- More people means no risk
- Teams can lift unlimited weights
Correct answer: Coordination is difficult and the load sharing is often unequal
Team lifting introduces coordination challenges — members may lift at different times, carry unequal shares of the load, or have different heights, increasing the overall risk.
Question 5: What is the recommended technique for pushing vs pulling a load?
- Pushing is generally safer than pulling as you can use your body weight (Correct answer)
- Pulling is always better
- There is no difference
- Neither should ever be done
Correct answer: Pushing is generally safer than pulling as you can use your body weight
Pushing is generally safer than pulling because you can use your body weight to assist, maintain better posture, and have better visibility of the path ahead.
Question 6: What personal factors affect manual handling capability?
- Age, fitness, existing injuries, pregnancy, and training level (Correct answer)
- Only body weight
- Hair colour and height
- Only age
Correct answer: Age, fitness, existing injuries, pregnancy, and training level
Individual factors including age, physical fitness, existing injuries or conditions, pregnancy, fatigue, training, and experience all affect a person's manual handling capability.
Safe Pass Manual Handling Ireland 3
What regulation specifically covers manual handling in Irish workplaces?