What RAPP is
Risk Assessment of Pushing and Pulling, or RAPP, identifies risk factors in manual operations such as moving trolleys, dragging or rolling loads. It complements tools aimed at lifting, because the force needed to move an object cannot simply be inferred from its weight. Effort may change substantially when starting, turning, stopping or overcoming an obstacle.
Two assessment routes
The guide distinguishes loads transported on wheeled equipment from non-wheeled loads that are slid, dragged, pivoted or rolled. Each route has its own factors and assessment sheet. An activity combining both situations requires each to be studied. Posture, grip, distance, frequency and recovery, equipment condition, floor conditions and obstacles are also reviewed.
Observe the entire route
Assessment should follow the actual task. A trolley may move with little force along a corridor but be difficult to move out of a lift, across a joint or up a slope. Wheel condition and orientation also matter. Consulting workers helps identify points missed by a trial run with empty equipment or on a different surface.
When to measure forces
Where effort needs to be quantified, suitable instruments such as a force gauge may be used under a representative procedure. Initial force should be distinguished from the force needed to maintain movement. The force being measured must pass through the instrument, and its direction of application must be considered. Technical force references are assessment guidance, not universal limits that automatically make a task safe.
What it cannot resolve on its own
RAPP is not intended to assess exertion using only the arms, pedal operation or powered equipment. Its use may require supplementary assessment. Scores help comparison and prioritisation, but HSE states that totals are not linked to specific action levels. Individual and organisational circumstances not fully represented by the sheet must also be considered.
Hypothetical example
In a laundry, loaded trolleys get stuck while passing through a doorway. Removing a few kilograms does not address the main cause: a raised joint and damaged wheels. The intervention combines maintenance, route improvements and load review. Initial force is checked at the problem point and observation repeated with the usual trolley. The improvement is verified along the entire route, not just near the exit.
