Risk assessment guide
HSA recommended method
TILE Manual Handling assessment method.
A simple way to weigh up manual handling risk at work using the TILE framework. Task, Individual, Load and Environment are the four things that decide whether a handling job is safe.
HSA recommended
Structured method
Easy to apply
Covered in course
The four factors
One clear checklist for handling risk.
Work through TILE and nothing important slips by - whether you are planning, reviewing or refreshing a handling task.
- T - Task: what the work actually involves
- I - Individual: the person's strength, training and health
- L - Load: its weight, size, shape and stability
- E - Environment: space, floor and conditions
TILE included
€35 · full course
The framework
What does TILE stand for?
It is a step-by-step way of sizing up handling risk by looking at four things in turn.
T
Task
The work itself - the movements, postures and actions it takes to get it done.
I
Individual
The person handling it - their strength, training, health and experience.
L
Load
The thing being moved - its weight, size, shape, grip and how stable it is.
E
Environment
The surroundings - space, floor, temperature, lighting and any obstacles.
Why TILE
Why this method works so well.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), along with safety bodies around the world, points to TILE as the standard way to assess handling risk. Its strength is the structure - work through it and you will not skip anything that matters.
A lot of injuries happen because an assessment looks at one thing only, usually how heavy the load is. TILE makes you see the whole picture: even a light load can hurt someone if the task is awkward, the person is not suited to it, or the surroundings are risky.
TILE is not a box-ticking exercise. It is a practical tool for finding the real risks and fixing them before anyone gets hurt.
When to use it
The right moments to run TILE.
Reach for TILE whenever handling risk might shift - new tasks, new people or new kit.
01
Setting up a new task
Before a new handling task goes live, run TILE so you catch the risks while you can still design them out.
02
Checking how you work now
Reviewing an existing procedure? TILE gives you a ready-made checklist so nothing slips through.
03
After something goes wrong
Following an injury or near-miss, walk through TILE to work out what happened and stop it happening again.
04
When things change
A new layout, new equipment or new staffing all change the picture, so reassess with TILE.
05
Welcoming a new starter
Use TILE at induction to shape training around the exact tasks the new person will do.
06
Routine safety checks
Fold TILE into your regular reviews so your assessments stay fresh and stand up to scrutiny.
Working through TILE, step by step
T - the Task
Start with the work itself: the physical actions, the postures and how long it all takes.
Ask yourself:
- Does it involve twisting, bending or stooping?
- Is there reaching above the shoulders or below the knees?
- How far does the load have to travel?
- How often is the task repeated?
- Does it mean holding or supporting a load for a while?
- Is there enough rest between repeats?
- Could a machine do it, or could it be redesigned?
I - the Individual
Next, the person doing it. People are not the same, so what is fine for one may be risky for another.
Ask yourself:
- Have they had proper manual handling training?
- Is there a health condition that affects what they can do?
- Are they pregnant, or coming back from an injury?
- Do they have the strength the task needs?
- How experienced are they with this kind of work?
- Is any special clothing or PPE needed - and to hand?
- Are they on their own, or is help available?
L - the Load
Then the load. Weight is only part of it - size, shape, grip and how it behaves all count.
Ask yourself:
- How heavy is it?
- Is the weight even, or lopsided?
- Can it be gripped firmly?
- Is it bulky, so it is hard to hold close?
- Could the contents shift while it moves?
- Is it sharp, hot, cold or otherwise hazardous?
- Could it be broken into smaller loads?
E - the Environment
Finally, the surroundings. Even an easy task turns risky in poor conditions.
Ask yourself:
- Is there room to stand and move safely?
- Is the floor level, solid and non-slip?
- Are there obstacles, trip hazards or stairs?
- Is there enough light to see clearly?
- Is it too hot or too cold?
- Is the air fresh enough?
- Are people under time pressure or being distracted?
One thing to keep in mind: a TILE assessment only earns its keep if it leads to action. Once you spot a risk, put controls in place to cut it as far as you reasonably can.
Turning your findings into controls
With the assessment done, work down the hierarchy of controls:
- Remove it - can the handling be designed out altogether, through automation or a change of process?
- Swap it - could a trolley, hoist or conveyor do the lifting instead?
- Engineer it out - could you change workstations, raise storage heights or add lifting aids?
- Manage it - could you rotate people, cap repetitions or plan the work better?
- Train for it - make sure everyone has proper Manual Handling Training in safe technique.
FAQs
Questions about TILE.
What people ask most about using TILE for handling risk assessment in Ireland.
Is TILE covered in your Manual Handling Course?
Yes. The Manual Handling Course works through the TILE method in full. You will see how to apply each part of it to spot risks in your own workplace and put the right controls in place.
Is TILE required by law in Ireland?
TILE as such is not named in law, but assessing manual handling risk is. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 require it, and TILE is the method the HSA recommends for doing it.
Who should carry out a TILE assessment?
A competent person - usually a supervisor, safety officer or manager - who understands both the work and the basics of manual handling risk assessment. Our Manual Handling Course teaches the TILE method these people rely on.
How often should a TILE assessment be reviewed?
Review it regularly - at least once a year - and any time something meaningful changes: new equipment, new procedures, new staff, an incident or near-miss, or a change in the working environment.
Does TILE work for every kind of manual handling?
Yes. It fits any handling activity - lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying or supporting. It works for objects and, with a little adaptation, for patient handling in care settings too.
Learn TILE inside our Manual Handling Course.
Get to grips with risk assessment and safe lifting in one place. The whole course takes about 45 minutes.
Related resources
Keep reading.
More on manual handling, risk assessment and safe lifting.
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