Manual Handling Train the Trainer -  TILE

Notes - TILE is an acronym that aims to help you carry out a manual handling risk assessment. Using TILE will ensure that every task is as safe as possible, acting as a reminder for all the factors that should be considered before a manual handling takes place.

Task: Are you going to be handling items for a long time, and is this a task you will be repeating? If your job requires frequent manual handling then you could still be at risk of injury even if you aren’t lifting the maximum weight each time. Does the task involve, twisting, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, carrying? How far & how often?

Individual: What are the abilities of the individual or group of people who are completing the manual handling task? Traits such as age, height, weight and fitness level will affect the maximum weight you can safely handle, and for how long you can carry out manual handling tasks. Ask yourself, who will be doing the task? Am i capable? Are they capable?

Load: Is the item you are dealing with easy to handle? Bulky, oversized or slippery objects will be harder to carry and lift safely, which will affect the maximum weight you can handle. Remember a load is any moveable object.

Environment: The layout and terrain of the environment in which the manual handling task is performed. Consider the area in which the load is being moved and look how this could make it unsafe. Do you have adequate space and visibility? If you are working in cramped conditions then you won’t be able to handle heavy loads safely, and if you cannot see clearly then you are more at risk of injury.