Which health conditions should be reported before engaging in manual handling activities?

Reporting chronic conditions affecting mobility or strength prior to engaging in manual handling activities is crucial because these conditions can significantly impact a person's ability to safely perform tasks that require physical effort. Chronic conditions may include issues such as arthritis, muscular dystrophy, or neurological disorders, which can hinder movement, balance, or overall physical capability. Recognizing and disclosing these conditions allows for appropriate accommodations to be made, ensuring both the safety of the individual and those around them during manual handling tasks.

While allergies to environmental factors, vision or hearing impairments, and general fatigue may have their own health considerations, they do not typically pose as direct a risk to the physical safety and effectiveness in manual handling as chronic conditions affecting mobility or strength. For instance, environmental allergies might not impede an individual’s physical ability to lift or carry items, and while vision and hearing impairments can affect awareness and communication, they do not necessarily compromise strength or physical capacity as chronic conditions can. General fatigue or occasional headaches may impact performance temporarily, but they are not as critical as persistent mobility or strength issues in the context of manual handling.