This policy applies to:

• All volunteers undertaking activities on behalf of the organisation
• All manual handling activities carried out during volunteering, including events, awareness days, storage activities, and setting up or packing away equipment

This policy does not apply to:

• Paid employees (who are covered by separate employee health and safety procedures)
• Contractors or external suppliers (who are responsible for their own safe systems of work)

This policy supports compliance with:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended)

While volunteers are not employees, the organisation still has a duty of care to take reasonable steps to protect their health and safety.

Manual handling includes any activity that involves:

• Lifting
• Lowering
• Carrying
• Pushing
• Pulling
• Holding
• Moving a load by hand or bodily force

Loads may include boxes, bags, display equipment, banners, tables, chairs, or collected items.

Organisation Responsibilities

The organisation will:

• Avoid manual handling tasks where reasonably practicable
• Assess manual handling risks where tasks cannot be avoided
• Provide guidance and information to volunteers
• Provide equipment where appropriate (e.g. trolleys)
• Encourage a culture where volunteers can say no to tasks they are uncomfortable with

Volunteer Responsibilities

• Volunteers are expected to:
• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety
• Follow guidance and instructions provided
• Only undertake tasks they feel physically capable of doing
• Use equipment provided correctly
• Ask for help or decline a task if they feel unsure or at risk
• Report any concerns, hazards, or injuries promptly

Volunteers should never feel pressured to lift or move items they are not comfortable handling.

Manual handling risks will be considered as part of:

• Event planning
• Activity planning
• Venue assessments

Risk assessments will take into account:

• The nature of the task
• The load (weight, size, stability)
• The environment (space, flooring, weather)
• The individual volunteer (experience, health considerations)
• Tasks may be modified, shared, or avoided where risks are identified.

Volunteers are encouraged to follow these basic principles:

• Think before lifting can the task be avoided or done differently?
• Check the load is it too heavy, bulky, or awkward?
• Get help team lifting is encouraged
• Keep the load close to the body
• Bend knees, not the back
• Avoid twisting while lifting
• Take breaks and avoid repetitive strain
• Stop if something doesn’t feel right

Where appropriate, the organisation or Branch may provide:

• Trolleys or wheeled aids
• Storage solutions to reduce lifting
• Guidance on safe setup and pack down procedures

Volunteers should report any damaged or unsuitable equipment.

Formal manual handling training is not mandatory for all volunteers. However:

• All volunteers involved in the set up at events who will be likely to be using manual handling techniques will need to do the manual handling training

• Briefings may be given prior to events or activities by the lead volunteer for that event.
• Additional support will be provided where risk is higher
• Specific guidance is available for some manual handling activities.

Any injury, discomfort, or near miss arising from manual handling should be reported as soon as possible to:

• The volunteer’s lead
• The event organiser
• Or the relevant organisational contact

This helps the organisation review activities and prevent future incidents

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This policy will be reviewed periodically or:

• Following an incident
• Following changes to activities or guidance
• As part of health and safety reviews