The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (UK)

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, often shortened to MHOR, are the main law on lifting and carrying at work in Great Britain. This guide explains what they require of employers in plain terms, without the legal jargon.

What the regulations require

MHOR sets out a clear order of priority that every employer must follow. First, avoid hazardous manual handling so far as is reasonably practicable, for example by having materials delivered closer to the point of use or by using a trolley or hoist. Where handling cannot be avoided, assess it. Then reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable.

The assessment

Where you cannot avoid a hazardous lift, you assess it using the TILE factors, the task, the individual, the load and the environment, explained in our what is manual handling guide. The assessment drives the controls you put in place.

Weight guidelines

The regulations do not set legal weight limits. The HSE instead publishes guideline filter figures, for example around 25 kilograms for a man lifting at waist height close to the body, less for women, and much less when the load is held at arm's length or above shoulder height. These are guidelines to trigger a closer look, not safe limits.

Duties on workers

Employers carry the main duty, but workers must make proper use of systems and equipment provided and follow the safe systems of work. Training in good lifting technique supports this but does not replace reducing the risk at source.

Record it properly

Record your manual handling assessments so you can show you have met the avoid, assess, reduce duty. Our risk assessment template gives you the form, and our manual handling risk assessment guide works through a real example.