HC Deb 03 December 1975 vol 901 cc641-4W
Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to reduce the 50,000 accidents per annum involving strains, sprains, etc., to the trunk due to the lifting of heavy weights.

Mr. Harold Walker

Initial work by the Health and Safety Executive is in progress with a view to the Health and Safety Commission considering the possibility of advisory material, a code of practice or Regulations on manual lifting and handling of heavy loads. As to the number of accidents notified to Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate involving strains, sprains, and so on, to the trunk, which may be directly attributed to the lifting of heavy weights, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 5th November.—[Vol. 899, c. 172–3.]

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement and prohibition notices have been issued to prevent employed persons from lifting, carrying or moving a load so as to be likely to cause injury.

Mr. Harold Walker

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that this information cannot be supplied at the present time without a disproportionate expenditure of staff time. It is expected, from general knowledge, that the numbers are likely to be extremely small.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will direct the Health and Safety Commission to instruct the Executive to commence work immediately on the preparation of regulations dealing with the lifting of heavy weights, with a view to an early presentation of such regulations to him.

Mr. Harold Walker

This work is in its early stages and it is for the Health and Safety Commission to decide how it will fit into the Commission's programme of work.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the Acts and associated regulations which place limits on weights to be carried by employed person in agriculture, industry, mining and quarrying and the weights limits therein; and if he will amend these limits in the light of current medical knowledge.

Mr. Harold Walker

Particulars of the Acts and Regulations which place limits on weights to be carried by employed persons in agriculture, industry, mining and quarrying are given below. Respective weight limits are given in each case. Current medical opinion is divided on the question of specifying maximum permissible weights.

AGRICULTURE: Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act 1956 Section 2(1)

for young persons a load so heavy as to be likely to cause injury" to the person lifting, carrying or moving it

The Agriculture (Lifting of Heavy Weights) Regulations 1959 SI 1959 No. 2120, Regulation 3

for workers employed in agriculture, any load consisting of a sack or bag together with its contents, lifted or carried unaided: 180 lb.

INDUSTRY:

Factories Act 1961, Section 72(1)

for any employed person any load so heavy as to be likely to cause injury" to the person lifting, carrying or moving it.

The Woollen and Worsted Textiles (Lifting of Heavy Weights) Regulations, 1926 S. R. & O. 1926 No. 1463 Regulations 1 and 2 for any employed person when lifting alone:

Person employed Maximum weight where material, yarn, cloth, tool or appliance
is is not
a reasonably compact rigid body
lb. lb.
Man 150 120
Woman of 18 or over 65 50
Male young person over 16 under 18 65 50
Female young person under 18 50 40
Male young person under 16 50 40

when lifting in conjunction with others: lowest weight limit for any person lifting, multiplied by the number of people lifting.

The Jute (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations, 1948 S. I. 1948 No. 1696 Part II Regulation 4, for women and young persons when lifting alone:

Person employed Maximum weight where material, yarn, cloth, tool or appliance
is is not
a reasonably compact rigid body lb.
lb. lb.
Woman of 18 or over 65 50
Male young person over 16 under 18 65 50
Female young person over 16 under 18 50 40
Young person aged 16 or under 40 35
when lifting in conjunction with others, lowest weight limit for any person lifting multiplied b the number of people lifting.

The Pottery (Health and Welfare) Special Regulations, 1950 S. I. 1950 No. 65, Regulations 6(6) and 6(7), for a woman lifting or carrying saggers herself: 30 lb. including contents in conjunction with any other person: 50 lb. including contents.

These limits may be increased to 50 lb. and 80 lb. respectively if the total movement is not more than 6 feet on approximately the same level.

For a young person in lifting or carrying 20 lb. unless there is a medical certificate entered in the Health Register specifying the maximum weight which that young person may lift or carry.

The Construction (General Provisions) Regulations, 1961 S. I. 1961 No. 1580 amended by S. I. 1966 No. 94, Regulation 55, for any employed person "any load so heavy as to be likely to cause injury" to the person lifting, carrying or moving it.

MINING AND QUARRYING

Mines and Quarries Act, 1954

Part III. Safety Health and Welfare (Mines). Section 93, for a woman or young person "a load so heavy as to be likely to cause injury" to the person carrying it.

Part V. Safety, Health and Welfare (Quarries) Section 115, (applies s. 93. as above, to quarries)