CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School Manual-Handling Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England, including staff and other workers who undertake manual-handling activities or contribute to their planning, supervision or review.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Manual-handling activities undertaken by school staff and other workers, including lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, pulling, moving, holding or supporting items or loads. Record each relevant task separately and describe the actual load, frequency, working environment, people involved and circumstances of the task. Independent schools are outside the stated scope.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Manual handling may expose people to injury risk where the task, load, working environment or people involved have not been identified and considered. Record the specific activity, location, load or object, handling method, frequency and people undertaking or affected by it.
- Existing controls
- Record only controls that are verified as currently in place for this task. Include any current arrangements for identifying, planning, supervising or reviewing the activity. If none are confirmed, record that confirmation is outstanding.
- Proposed controls
- Consider whether the task can be avoided or the need for manual handling reduced. Where manual handling remains, document proportionate measures based on the actual task and circumstances. Record the person responsible for each agreed measure, the target date, completion status and the trigger or date for review.
Local assessment and additional controls
Injury risk may arise where manual handling is undertaken even though the activity, movement or requirement could be avoided, redesigned or reduced.
- Existing controls
- Record any verified arrangements that already prevent, eliminate or reduce the need for manual handling. Do not assume that avoidance measures exist.
- Proposed controls
- Consider and document whether the activity can be avoided, eliminated, redesigned or reduced. If avoidance is not reasonably practicable, record the reason and the alternative measures selected. Assign an owner and review when the task, item, premises or work arrangement changes.
Local assessment and additional controls
Injury risk may arise from the characteristics of the load or the force required to lift, lower, carry, push, pull, hold or support it. Record relevant load characteristics and task demands rather than relying on an assumed safe value.
- Existing controls
- Record verified information about current load-handling arrangements, including any established limits, preparation, packaging, storage or assistance arrangements. Do not enter unverified weight, force or capacity information.
- Proposed controls
- Consider whether the load or task can be changed to reduce force or handling demand, and whether assistance or another method is needed. Record the task-specific control, responsible person, implementation status and review trigger. Use relevant HSE assessment support only where it is useful and proportionate.
Local assessment and additional controls
Injury risk may arise from the posture, reach, lifting or lowering movement, carrying distance, obstruction, stability or other physical demands of the task.
- Existing controls
- Record only observed or otherwise verified controls affecting posture, reach, movement, route or stability. Do not assume that a clear route, suitable working height or adequate space is available.
- Proposed controls
- Consider changes to the task, layout, route, storage, working height, access or method that could reduce physical demand. Record any need for assistance, supervision or a different handling arrangement without asserting that it is already available. Assign responsibility and review after changes or reported difficulty.
Local assessment and additional controls
Repeated, prolonged or time-pressured manual handling may increase injury risk. Record the actual frequency, duration, pace, recovery opportunities and any variation in the task.
- Existing controls
- Record verified arrangements that currently affect frequency, duration, pace, task allocation or recovery. If these arrangements have not been checked, state that they require confirmation.
- Proposed controls
- Consider whether work can be reorganised or redesigned to reduce repetition, duration or time pressure. Use an HSE risk filter or assessment tool conditionally where useful for screening or structured assessment; it is not a separate legal requirement in this register. Record the responsible person and review trigger.
Local assessment and additional controls
The working environment or route may introduce additional manual-handling difficulty or injury risk. Assess the actual location, access, space, surfaces, visibility, weather or other relevant conditions for the task.
- Existing controls
- Record verified site-specific environmental controls and arrangements for the actual task and route. Do not assert that conditions have been checked or that any particular equipment, building system or building feature is present.
- Proposed controls
- Consider measures to improve or manage the actual working environment and route, or to avoid handling until relevant conditions are suitable. Record any required local checks, responsible person, completion status and review trigger.
Local assessment and additional controls
People involved may have differing abilities, experience, information, instruction, supervision or temporary circumstances relevant to the actual manual-handling task.
- Existing controls
- Record verified arrangements for identifying and considering the people undertaking, supervising or affected by the task. Do not assume that training, competence, supervision or fitness for the task has been established.
- Proposed controls
- Consider how the task will be allocated, explained, supervised and reviewed for the people involved. Record any need for task-specific information, instruction, competence checks, consultation or alternative arrangements without asserting completion. Assign responsibility and identify review triggers.
Local assessment and additional controls
Manual-handling risks may remain uncontrolled if the task is not screened, assessed proportionately, documented, communicated or reviewed when circumstances change.
- Existing controls
- Record the current assessment, communication, monitoring and review arrangements only after they have been verified for this task. Record whether an HSE filter or tool has been used, not used, or remains under consideration; use remains conditional and optional.
- Proposed controls
- Screen the task and decide whether a detailed assessment is proportionate. Where useful, use relevant HSE manual-handling filters or assessment tools as aids to the assessment process. Record the assessment owner, consulted people, actions, completion status and review triggers, such as a change to the task, load, route, environment, people involved, working arrangements, reported difficulty, incident or emerging evidence of injury.
Local assessment and additional controls