ADOSH-SF Code of Practice 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People

Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and
Health System Framework
(ADOSH-SF)
Code of Practice
CoP 14.1 – Manual Tasks Involving the Handling
of People
Version 4.0
15 July 2024

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
Page 2 of 10
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Training and Competency ........................................................................................................................... 4
3. Requirements .................................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................................................. 5
3.2 Planning and Assessment.................................................................................................................. 6
4. References ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
5. Document Amendment Record ................................................................................................................. 8

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
Page 3 of 10
1. Introduction
(a) This Code of Practice (CoP) applies to all employers and places of business within the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi that have exposure to risk due to the manual handling / lifting
of people (e.g. patients in a hospital) that can cause or aggravate work-related
musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) or other related injuries and illnesses. If
requirements of this document conflict with requirements set by another regulatory
authority, employers are required to follow the more stringent requirement.
(b) This CoP applies to any workplace activity requiring the use of force by a person to
hold, support, transfer (lift, lower, carry, push, pull, slide), or restrain another person at
a workplace.
(c) The principal method of reducing risk is by avoiding hazardous manual handling
operations. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate this completely, it shall be
carefully and critically assessed. The employer shall take the task, the load, the
working environment, individual capabilities and other factors into account to ensure
appropriate control measures are developed and implemented.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
Page 4 of 10
2. Training and Competency
(a) Employers shall ensure that OSH training complies with the requirements of:
(i)
ADOSH-SF – Element 5 – Training, Awareness and Competency;
(ii)
ADOSH-SF – Mechanism 7.0 – Occupational Safety and Health Practitioner and
Service Provider Registration.
(b) Training programs shall be developed to meet the needs of specific occupational
groups or working teams.
(c) Employers shall ensure all employees and relevant other persons that perform manual
handling of people are at a minimum trained on:
(i) safe work practices and worksite procedures;
(ii) how to identify problems with a task or action and choose appropriate solutions
(basic risk management);
(iii) the types of workplace injuries associated with the manual tasks performed,
their causes, early signs of injury and risk factors;
(iv) when transferring a person (lifting, carrying, pushing, etc), employees shall
know:
1. when to call for help;
2. how to safely use all mechanical aids and assistive devices;
3. how to set up and adjust the work area for safe and efficient handling; and
4. have the ability to apply the principles of safe handling (when physically
handling).
(d) Employers shall ensure that line managers and supervisors shall receive training to
enable them to implement and monitor established safe practices.
(e) Refresher training shall be conducted on an annual basis.
(f) Training programs shall be reviewed and updated when there is a change in handling
equipment, control measures, or legislation/standards.
(g) Employers shall maintain a record of the required training that contains the following:
(i) name and ID number;
(ii) Emirates ID number of the employee;
(iii) subject(s) of training;
(iv) date(s) of training; and
(v) person providing the training;

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
Page 5 of 10
3. Requirements
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities
3.1.1 Employers
(a) Employers shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.5
.
(b) Employers shall comply with the applicable requirements of
ADOSH-SF – CoP 14.0 –
Manual Handling and Ergonomics.
(c) Employers shall develop and implement control measures and safe work practices to
reduce employee’s exposures to manual handling and ergonomic risks.
(d) Employers shall consider control measures, including engineering control measures to
remove or reduce employee exposure to hazards associated with manual handling and
ergonomics.
(e) Employers shall assess the employee's capability to perform manual handling
operations which might create safety and health risks.
(f) Employers shall ensure equipment utilized in the lifting / handling of a person is fit for
purpose.
(g) Employers shall ensure equipment utilized in the lifting / handling of a person is
inspected, tested, certified and maintained as per the manufacturer’s requirements.
(h) Employers shall ensure, when developing procedures for evacuation of a building
during an emergency, that they consider the effect of people handling on employees.
(i) Employers shall ensure maintenance is performed on equipment used to handle
people as per the manufacturer’s instructions and preventative maintenance plan.
(j) Employers shall monitor the use of equipment used to handle people to ensure
employees are using the equipment appropriately.
3.1.2 Employees
(a) Employees shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.7.
(b) Employees shall report any activity or defect relating to manual handling of people
which they believe is reasonably foreseeable to endanger their safety or that of
another person.
(c) Employees shall comply with safe work practices and standard operating procedures.
(d) Employees shall use appropriate equipment or safety devices provided by the
employer in accordance with any training or instruction received in the use of the work
equipment or device concerned.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
Page 6 of 10
(e) Employees shall not perform any task requiring training until they have received the
required training and it is documented.
(f) Employees shall not operate any piece of equipment that they are not familiar with
and appropriately trained on its use.
3.2 Planning and Assessment
(a) Employers shall perform a risk assessment in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – Element 2
– Risk Management to determine the risks associated manual handling of people and
implement control measures and safe work practices to reduce employees exposures
to task that could cause an injury.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
Page 7 of 10
4. References
•
Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People Code of Practice 2001, Workplace
Health and Safety Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-General,
Queensland Government, Australia
•
Manual Handling in Health Care Services, A Guide to the Handling of People,
Occupational Safety and Health Branch, Labour Department, Government of the
People’s Republic of China

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
Page 8 of 10
5. Document Amendment Record
Version Revision Date Description of Amendment
Page/s Affected
4.0
15 July 2024
System acronym updated from OSHAD-SF
to ADOSH-SF to accurately reflect
document title
Throughout
Change from OSHAD to ADPHC
Change of Logo
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements.
Title of Mechanism 7.0 updated to ADOSH-
SF – Mechanism 7– Public and Preventive
Health Practitioner and Service Provider
Accreditation
OSHAD-SF - Mechanism 8.0 - OSH
Practitioner Registration deleted

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
Page 9 of 10