Manual Handling Assessment of Training Dummies

Risk Assessment for the general handling and transportation of training dummies/mannequins/manikins by West Midlands Fire Service personnel. The assessment was conducted in accordance with the requirements of the following Regulations and the associated guidance contained therein.

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGULATIONS
1992 MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONS REGULATIONS 1992

The West Midlands Fire Service has determined, following assessment, that the general handling and transportation of all training dummies/mannequins/manikins with a dry weight of 25kg (55lbs) and over, will be an operation which is to be conducted by a minimum of two persons. During a training exercise, the handling of such dummies will be subject to a Dynamic Risk assessment by personnel engaged in the training scenario, at the completion of which, it MAY be considered appropriate for the handling of a dummy to be a one person operation during the performance of the rescue phase of the exercise only.

For your information, Home Office guidance on the Dynamic Management of risk proposes the following definition: -

" The continuous process of identifying hazards, assessing risks,
taking action to eliminate or reduce risk monitoring and reviewing,
in the rapidly changing circumstances of an operational incident."

In order for personnel to be able to identify those training dummies with a dry weight of 25kg (55lbs) and over, Ruth Lee Fire And Rescue Equipment Ltd will ensure that all dummies which fall into this category will be identified with red heads and a manual handling risk label which will include the weight. (April 1999)

Supplementary note:

The Water Rescue dummy although 40Kg (90lbs), has a yellow head to the front and red to the back, this is to aid identification of the dummies position in water and from a distance.

It should also be noted that the Water Rescue dummy weighs in excess of 40Kg (90lbs) after being submerged in water for any length of time (the new head labels warn of this); instructors must ensure that the recovery of a Water Rescue dummy from water is subject to a Dynamic Risk assessment.