What is a TILE Assessment?

A TILE assessment is a structured approach to evaluating manual handling risks by examining four key factors: Task, Individual, Load, and Environment. It helps you identify potential hazards before injuries occur and determine what control measures are needed.

What does TILE stand for?

TILE is a mnemonic that breaks down manual handling assessments into four essential elements:

• T — Task (what needs to be done)
• I — Individual (the person doing it)
• L — Load (what's being handled)
• E — Environment (where it's happening)

By systematically examining each factor, you can identify risks that might not be obvious when looking at just one aspect in isolation.

Why conduct a TILE assessment?

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to:

1. Avoid hazardous manual handling operations where reasonably practicable
2. Assess any hazardous manual handling that can't be avoided
3. Reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level reasonably practicable

A TILE assessment helps you fulfil the second and third duties. It provides a systematic framework for identifying risks and determining appropriate control measures.

The TILE framework explained

Task factors

Consider what the job actually requires:

Holding loads away from the body:

• Reaching forward, sideways, or overhead
• Working at arms length
• Handling over barriers or obstacles

Twisting and rotating:

• Turning while holding a load
• Moving between different working heights
• Asymmetric lifting or placing

Stooping and bending:

• Lifting from floor level
• Working in confined spaces
• Maintaining awkward postures

Excessive carrying distances:

• Long travel distances
• Stairs or slopes
• Uneven surfaces

Excessive repetition:

• Frequent lifting cycles
• Sustained gripping or holding
• No recovery time between tasks

Precision placement:

• Tight tolerances
• Need for exact positioning
• Working with fragile items

Risk of sudden movement:

• Unstable loads
• Unpredictable contents
• Live loads (people or animals)

Individual factors

Consider the capability and limitations of the person:

Physical capability:

• Strength and fitness
• Height and reach
• Previous injuries or conditions

Health conditions affecting ability:

• Back problems or musculoskeletal disorders
• Cardiovascular conditions
• Respiratory issues
• Hernias

Pregnancy:

• Changes in balance and centre of gravity
• Reduced capacity
• Increased vulnerability to injury
• Hormonal effects on ligaments

Age and experience:

• Young or inexperienced workers
• Older workers with reduced capacity
• Time since training

Training and competence:

• Understanding of safe techniques
• Awareness of own limitations
• Knowledge of when to get help

Personal protective equipment:

• Does PPE restrict movement?
• Is it appropriate for the task?
• Can the person work safely while wearing it?

Load factors

Consider what's being handled:

Weight:

• Actual weight of the item
• Perceived weight (may differ from actual)
• Distribution of weight within the load

Size and shape:

• Bulky items that can't be held close to the body
• Irregular shapes that are difficult to grip
• Long items that affect balance
• Sharp or protruding edges

Difficulty gripping:

• No handles or poor handle design
• Slippery surfaces
• Need for gloves that reduce grip

Stability:

• Contents that shift during handling
• Liquid-filled containers
• Stacked items that may topple
• Centre of gravity away from geometric centre

Visibility:

• Load blocks view of feet or path
• Can't see where you're placing it
• Obscures hazards or obstacles

Temperature:

• Very hot or cold items
• Condensation making surfaces slippery
• Need for protective gloves

Contents:

• Hazardous substances
• Fragile items requiring care
• Living things that may move

Environment factors

Consider where the work takes place:

Space constraints:

• Limited headroom
• Narrow aisles or doorways
• Cluttered work areas
• Restricted access

Floor conditions:

• Uneven or damaged surfaces
• Wet, slippery, or contaminated floors
• Slopes or gradients
• Steps or changes in level
• Loose or unsuitable flooring

Lighting:

• Poor visibility
• Glare or shadows
• Insufficient light to see hazards
• Sudden changes from light to dark areas

Temperature and humidity:

• Extremes of heat or cold
• High humidity
• Poor ventilation
• Sudden temperature changes (e.g., cold stores)

Weather conditions:

• Wind affecting balance
• Rain making surfaces slippery
• Ice or snow
• Outdoor exposure

Layout and workflow:

• Storage at unsuitable heights
• Poor positioning of equipment
• Long or obstructed routes
• Need to work on unstable platforms

How to conduct a TILE assessment

Follow these steps for a thorough assessment:

1. Identify manual handling tasks

Walk through your workplace and list all activities involving:

• Lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, or pulling
• Repeated or sustained postures
• Application of force

2. Prioritise high-risk tasks

Focus first on tasks that:

• Have caused injury or near misses
• Involve heavy or awkward loads
• Occur frequently
• Are performed by vulnerable workers
• Involve multiple risk factors

3. Apply the TILE framework

For each task, systematically evaluate:

Task:

• What movements are required?
• What postures are adopted?
• How often is it done?
• How long does it take?

Individual:

• Who does this task?
• Do they have any limitations?
• Have they been trained?
• Do they understand the risks?

Load:

• What's being handled?
• How much does it weigh?
• Is it awkward or unstable?
• Can it be improved?

Environment:

• Where does it happen?
• What are the conditions like?
• Are there space restrictions?
• What hazards exist?

4. Determine the level of risk

Evaluate whether the risk is:

• Low — Unlikely to cause injury with current controls
• Medium — Could cause injury; improvements desirable
• High — Likely to cause injury; immediate action needed

5. Identify control measures

Apply the hierarchy of controls:

1. Eliminate — Can you avoid manual handling entirely? (automation, redesign)
2. Reduce — Can you make it lighter, closer, easier? (mechanical aids, splitting loads)
3. Control — Can you make it safer? (training, technique, team lifts)

6. Record your findings

Document:

• Task description
• TILE factors identified
• Risk level
• Control measures (existing and required)
• Person responsible
• Review date

Control measures for common risks

Recording your TILE assessment

A good assessment record includes:

Assessment details:

• Date and assessor name
• Task description and location
• Who performs the task and how often

TILE factors identified:

• Task risks (posture, frequency, duration)
• Individual factors (who, capabilities, limitations)
• Load characteristics (weight, size, stability)
• Environment conditions (space, floors, lighting)

Risk evaluation:

• Overall risk level (low/medium/high)
• Rationale for the rating

Control measures:

• What's already in place
• What additional measures are needed
• Priority and timescale
• Person responsible

Review information:

• Review date
• Triggers for earlier review

When to review your TILE assessment

Review your assessments:

• Regularly — At least annually, or more often for high-risk tasks
• After incidents — Any injury, near miss, or complaint of discomfort
• When tasks change — New equipment, different loads, altered procedures
• When people change — New staff, changes in capability (pregnancy, injury, aging)
• When the environment changes — Layout alterations, new hazards, seasonal conditions
• If your assessment is challenged — Worker concerns, inspection feedback

Legal requirements

Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, every employer must:

1. Avoid hazardous manual handling so far as reasonably practicable
2. Assess any hazardous manual handling that cannot be avoided
3. Reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level reasonably practicable
4. Review assessments when circumstances change or if there's reason to suspect they're no longer valid

You must assess any manual handling task that involves a risk of injury. The TILE framework is widely recognised as meeting the assessment requirement.

Common TILE assessment mistakes

1. Focusing only on weight — Ignoring other factors like repetition, posture, or environment

2. Generic assessments — Using templates without considering the actual task, people, and workplace

3. Forgetting the individual — Assessing the task but not who does it

4. Ignoring small changes — Not reviewing when tasks gradually evolve

5. Overlooking environmental factors — Missing risks from poor lighting, flooring, or space

6. No follow-through — Identifying risks but not implementing controls

7. Inadequate involvement — Not asking workers about difficulties they experience

TILE assessment checklist

Next steps

If you're ready to start assessing manual handling risks in your workplace:

See our manual handling risk assessment guide →

Related articles:

• Manual Handling Regulations explained
• Safe lifting techniques
• Manual handling training requirements

Useful tools:

• Manual Handling Risk Checker
• Risk Assessment Builder