Manual handling injuries are the second most common type of injury in the workplace, accounting for 21% of all workplace accidents.
Training your employees in manual handling is absolutely essential. Proper training can be the difference between a task being done properly, versus it ending in injury. Not only is manual handling training important for the safety of your employees, but it’s also your legal duty as an employer.
In this article, we will talk through everything you need to know about manual handling training.
What is Manual Handling?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines Manual Handling as;
“Manual handling relates to the moving of items either by lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing or pulling.”
Those items could be objects, persons or animals. If it needs to be moved, it counts as a load.
There are numerous dangers associated with manual handling, so it is essential that anyone undertaking manual handling work should be given proper training to protect themselves. Proper training will help decrease the likelihood of accidents happening in the workplace.
What is Involved in Manual Handling Training?
As the name suggests, manual handling teaches workers everything they need to know about manoeuvring loads safely. The training involves techniques for lifting, pushing, pulling and storing too. The training will usually cover the following topics:
- Risk factors: To help workers identify hazards
- Risk assessing: Helping workers understand how to assess the risk of handling a load
- Safe handling techniques: Covering the basics of how to manual handle safely
- Mechanical aids: How to use mechanical aids to help with lifting
- Practical work: Demonstrating safe lifting techniques
- Back health: Attendees will be taught about the structure and function of the spine, and how poor handling can lead to back pain
- Laws: Workers will be run through manual handling laws and guidance
How Can It Help Your Business?
More than a third of work-related injuries come from manual handling issues, and the most common problem is the back. In the UK, this leads to more than 12 million lost work days per year. However, with proper manual handling training, the majority of these injuries could be prevented and the sick days could be gained back.
If your staff are required to lift, lower, push or pull any kind of load as part of their daily working tasks, proper training is essential.
Contact Workplace Safety Group for Training
Our trainers are fully vetted, highly experienced, and extremely knowledgeable about all areas of health and safety. You can rest assured that when you book a manual handling training course through us, you’ll get the very best people who can make the learning fun, memorable and practical.