The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently released a leaflet aimed at employers and others involved in the production and distribution of newspaper and magazine bundles and includes advice for newsagents. It includes guidance on assessing and reducing risks from manual handling of newspaper and magazine bundles and outlines the requirements of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.

It includes guidance on the task, the load, the working environment and individual capability as well as specific advice on loading vehicles, moving loads and making up orders. There is also a section aimed at newsagents.

The leaflet can be downloaded here.

Manual handling (lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling etc.) of bundles in the production, distribution and sale of newspapers, periodicals and magazines can cause strains or serious injuries which may build up over time. Everyone needs to be aware of the risks they may create for others up and down the distribution chain, and co-operate to help reduce the risk of injury.

Identifying Risks
Risks from handling occurs during:

  • loading and unloading of delivery vehicles at the newspaper and magazine producers and throughout the distribution chain;
  • making up orders at the wholesalers;
  • receiving deliveries at the newsagent’s shop;
  • door-to-door delivery rounds; and
  • processing returns bundles made up by newsagents.

Reducing Risk
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require you to:

  • avoid the need for hazardous manual handling so far as is reasonably practicable, for example eliminate, automate, or mechanise the task;
  • assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling if it cannot be avoided (look at the task, individual capability, the load and the working environment); and
  • reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Advice for Newsagents
The following advice will help newsagents reduce the risks from manual handling:

  • Try to send back returns every day, or several times a week, to reduce the weight and number of bundles handled by the collection agent.
  • Try to use a front-opening rather than a top-opening secure delivery box to eliminate the need to reach over the rim and down to the base.
  • If you have a top-opening secure delivery box which will not be filled to capacity, put a robust box or similar in the base to raise the load and avoid stooping when lifting out the order bundle. Ensure the height of the false base takes account of the size of the next day’s order.
  • Use a porter’s trolley to move the bundles into and out of the shop.
  • Before moving a bundle, make sure the quantities are manageable – it may be safer to split it.
  • Make sure your returns bundles are not heavier than those made up by the publisher and wholesaler.
  • Make up securely tied bundles with strong twine rather than using flimsy cardboard boxes.
  • Limit the bundles to a height no greater than those you receive so they won’t be too heavy.
  • Use tote boxes where provided.
  • Provide suitable gloves where necessary to reduce the risk of injury to the hands.
  • Check with the local trading standards office about by-laws on any weight limits that may apply to juveniles. Take appropriate action to ensure that newspaper deliverers do not lift, carry or move anything that it is likely to cause them injury. Avoid overloading by using trolleys, splitting rounds, or transporting newspapers to pre-arranged points for collection by the news deliverers.
  • Provide suitable training and regular information to all your staff, including the newspaper deliverers, on safe lifting and the nature of the injuries you are trying to protect them from.

Find what you were looking for?

Our FREE resources library contains over 200 searchable blogs, guides and templates focused around Employment Law and Health & Safety issues that employers face on a day-to-day basis.

Get your FREE download

We combine the service quality of a law firm with the certainty of fixed-fee services to provide expert, solutions-focused Employment LawHR and Health & Safety support tailored to employers.

Call us on 0345 226 8393.

Get your FREE download

We combine the service quality of a law firm with the certainty of fixed-fee services to provide expert, solutions-focused Employment LawHR and Health & Safety support tailored to employers.

Call us on 0345 226 8393.

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Book a FREE demo

One of our team will be in touch as soon as possible. If we miss you, we’ll send over a Calendly invite so you can choose a more convenient time and date for a callback. 

Activate your free trial

The rota module has been built on our brand new technology platform, so you’ll need to create a new account that you can then integrate with your existing Youmanage/PeopleNest account.

Follow these steps to activate your trial

  1. Log in to your existing Youmanage/PeopleNest account
  2. Navigate to admin mode
  3. In the menu, navigate to Integrations > Marketplace
  4. On the ‘PeopleNest – Rota Module’ line, click ‘configure’
  5. Create your new account – because we’ve built the new Rota Module on our brand new PeopleNest platform, you’ll need to create an account. Make sure you use the same email address as your admin account in Youmanage (can use Microsoft/Google authentication)
  6. Sign-in using your new login details
  7. Read the message about the integration and click continue if you are happy to proceed
  8. It takes a few minutes for your employees to start pulling through, then you’re ready to go!

Book a consultation

One of our team will be in touch as soon as possible. If we miss you, we’ll send over a Calendly invite so you can choose a more convenient time and date for a callback. 

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Search...

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Before you go…

We can help with that HR problem or health and safety query. If you’re an employer, leave your details below and our team will call you back.

Register your interest

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Download your FREE guide

Submit your details below.

Request a callback

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Need some help?

Call our team now on:

0345 226 8393

Request a Callback

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Request a Callback
Hi, how can we help?
Click the button below to chat to an expert.