SECTION II

EMPLOYERS' OBLIGATIONS

General provision
Article 3
1
The employer shall take appropriate organizational measures, or shall use the appropriate means, in particular mechanical equipment, in order to avoid the need for the manual handling of loads by workers.
2
Where the need for the manual handling of loads by workers cannot be avoided, the employer shall take the appropriate organizational measures, use the appropriate means or provide workers with such means in order to reduce the risk involved in the manual handling of such loads, having regard to Annex I.

Organization of workstations
Article 4
Wherever the need for manual handling of loads by workers cannot be avoided, the employer shall organize workstations in such a way as to make such handling as safe and healthy as possible and:
1. assess, in advance if possible, the health and safety conditions of the type of work involved, and in particular examine the characteristics of loads, taking account of Annex I;
2. take care to avoid or reduce the risk particularly of back injury to workers, by taking appropriate measures, considering in particular the characteristics of the working environment and the requirements of the activity, taking account of Annex I.

Reference to Annex II
Article 5
For the implementation of Article 6 (3) (b) and Articles 14 and 15 of Directive 89/391 /EEC, account should be taken of Annex II.

Information for, and training of, workers
Article 6
1
Without prejudice to Article 10 of Directive 89/391/EEC, workers and/or their representatives shall be informed of all measures to be implemented, pursuant to this Directive, with regard to the protection of safety and of health.
Employers must ensure that workers and/or their representatives receive general indications and, where possible, precise information on:
- the weight of a load,
- the centre of gravity of the heaviest side when a package is eccentrically loaded.
2
Without prejudice to Article 12 of Directive 83/391 /EEC, employers must ensure that workers receive in addition proper training and information on how to handle loads correctly and the risks they might be open to particularly if these tasks are not performed correctly, having regard to Annexes I and II.

Consultation of workers and workers' participation
Article 7
Consultation and participation of workers and/or of their representatives shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 89/391/EEC on matters covered by this Directive, including the Annexes thereto.