Manual Handling Course (EU): The law: avoid, assess, reduce

1. Question 1 of 16

   Which EU directive deals specifically with the manual handling of loads?

   • AThe Vibration Directive
   • BThe Framework Directive 89/391/EEC
   • CCouncil Directive 90/269/EEC
   • DThe Display Screen Equipment Directive
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   Answer: C. Council Directive 90/269/EEC

   Directive 90/269/EEC sets the minimum requirements for manual handling. The Framework Directive sets general duties for all safety and health at work.

2. Question 2 of 16

   The Manual Handling Directive mainly aims to protect workers from which kind of injury?

   • ASkin burns
   • BBack injury
   • CEye strain
   • DHearing loss
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   Answer: B. Back injury

   Its full title refers to manual handling where there is a risk, particularly of back injury, to workers.

3. Question 3 of 16

   Under Directive 90/269/EEC, what must an employer try to do FIRST?

   • ATrain workers in lifting technique
   • BAvoid the need for manual handling
   • CBuy back-support belts for staff
   • DSet a weight limit of 25 kg
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   Answer: B. Avoid the need for manual handling

   Article 3 says employers must first take measures, such as mechanical equipment, to avoid the need for manual handling.

4. Question 4 of 16

   Manual handling cannot be avoided. What must the employer then do?

   • AAsk the workers to sign a waiver form
   • BNothing more, as long as workers are adults
   • CAssess the risks and reduce them
   • DPay a risk bonus instead of making changes
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   Answer: C. Assess the risks and reduce them

   Where handling cannot be avoided, the employer must assess the conditions and take measures to avoid or reduce the risk of back injury.

5. Question 5 of 16

   Which of these uses mechanical equipment to avoid manual handling?

   • AMoving pallets with a lift truck
   • BAsking workers to lift faster
   • CHiring only the strongest workers
   • DMaking each box twice as big
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   Answer: A. Moving pallets with a lift truck

   Using mechanical equipment such as lift trucks or conveyors removes the need to lift by hand.

6. Question 6 of 16

   Under the Directive, what information about a load should workers get where possible?

   • AIts price and the name of the supplier
   • BIts weight, and its heavier side if off-centre
   • CThe date and place it was manufactured
   • DThe name of the driver who delivered it
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   Answer: B. Its weight, and its heavier side if off-centre

   Article 6 says workers should get precise information on the weight and, for off-centre loads, the centre of gravity of the heaviest side, where possible.

7. Question 7 of 16

   Under the Framework Directive, when must safety and health training take place?

   • AOnly before the person is hired
   • BOn the worker's day off
   • COnly after an accident
   • DDuring working hours
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   Answer: D. During working hours

   Article 12 of Directive 89/391/EEC says the training must take place during working hours.

8. Question 8 of 16

   Under the Framework Directive, who pays for required safety and health training?

   • AWorkers pay half of the cost of each course
   • BIt may not be at the workers' expense
   • CWorkers pay unless they pass at the first try
   • DWorkers pay first and then claim it back
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   Answer: B. It may not be at the workers' expense

   Article 12 says this training may not be at the workers' expense.

9. Question 9 of 16

   Which event should lead to new safety and health training for a worker?

   • AOnly a visit from a labour inspector
   • BOnly a written request from the worker
   • CMoving to a job with new equipment
   • DOnly a fixed date once every ten years
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   Answer: C. Moving to a job with new equipment

   Training must be given on recruitment, on a transfer or change of job, and when new work equipment or technology is introduced.

10. Question 10 of 16

    How does an EU directive such as 90/269/EEC reach your workplace?

    • AIt replaces every national safety law at once
    • BEach EU country puts it into national law
    • CIt applies only to staff of the EU institutions
    • DIt is a voluntary guideline with no legal force
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    Answer: B. Each EU country puts it into national law

    Directives are addressed to the Member States, which had to bring national laws into force to comply, by 31 December 1992 for this directive.

11. Question 11 of 16

    Can a country's own law give workers more protection than the Directive?

    • ANo, every country must use exactly the same text
    • BYes, the EU rules are minimum requirements
    • CNo, national rules may only give less protection
    • DOnly for workers employed in the public sector
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    Answer: B. Yes, the EU rules are minimum requirements

    The Directive sets minimum requirements, and the Framework Directive does not override national provisions that are more favourable to workers.

12. Question 12 of 16

    Which of these is a duty of workers under the Framework Directive?

    • AUse work and transport equipment correctly
    • BPay for their own safety training
    • CCarry out the formal risk assessment alone
    • DSet the weight limits for the site
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    Answer: A. Use work and transport equipment correctly

    Article 13 says workers must make correct use of machinery, tools, transport equipment and other means of production.

13. Question 13 of 16

    The trolley for heavy deliveries has a broken wheel. Under the Framework Directive, what should a worker do?

    • ATell the employer about it straight away
    • BFix it quietly without telling anyone at all
    • CCarry all the heavy deliveries by hand instead
    • DWait for the yearly equipment inspection
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    Answer: A. Tell the employer about it straight away

    Workers must immediately inform the employer of shortcomings in the protection arrangements.

14. Question 14 of 16

    Which is one of the general principles of prevention in the Framework Directive?

    • AAccepting risks that are hard to measure
    • BAdapting the worker to fit the existing job
    • CAdapting the work to the individual
    • DUsing personal protection before collective protection
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    Answer: C. Adapting the work to the individual

    The principles include avoiding risks, adapting the work to the individual and giving collective protection priority over individual protection.

15. Question 15 of 16

    According to EU-OSHA, when should job rotation and rest breaks be used to control handling risk?

    • AOnly in offices, never in warehouses
    • BInstead of buying any lifting aids at all
    • COnly when risks cannot be removed or reduced
    • DAs the very first step in every case
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    Answer: C. Only when risks cannot be removed or reduced

    EU-OSHA says organisational measures such as job rotation and breaks should only be considered if elimination or reduction is not possible.

16. Question 16 of 16

    Workers have their own safety duties. Does this reduce the employer's responsibility?

    • ANo, the employer keeps the main responsibility
    • BYes, as soon as any training has been given
    • COnly for workers with many years of experience
    • DYes, workers then become fully responsible
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    Answer: A. No, the employer keeps the main responsibility

    Article 5 of the Framework Directive says workers' duties do not affect the principle of the employer's responsibility.

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