Manual Handling of Objects Training Course

Manual Handling is best defined by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: "... any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof by hand or bodily force.".

Ensuring manual handling is managed correctly is crucial to reducing the risk of injury. Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, it is the business owner's responsibility to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place and steps are taken to reduce the risk from manual handling accidents. Otherwise, this can open your business up to potential lawsuits and fines.

The 4 key areas of manual handling are the nature of the task, the capabilities of the individual, the characteristics of the load and the layout of the environment. It's normally easily remembered by using the acronym TILE:

T - Task - assessing the task at hand can help gauge the distance you need to travel, the number of people that need to carry it and whether you need to lift or twist whilst carrying it.

I - Individual - choosing the right person to lift is vital to ensure no injury occurs. Things to consider are their age, strength, health conditions, the equipment they possess and whether they need specialist training.

L - Load - think about how heavy the load is, if it's an odd shape, if it's difficult to hold or obstructs the carrier's view.

E - Environment - make sure to have a look at the layout of your environment. There could be a restricted area that you aren't allowed in, the ground may be slippery or uneven or the lighting is poor.

These 4 key areas should be considered when carrying out a manual handling risk assessment. You should also instruct your employees to use TILE before they begin the manual handling process. This can help them protect themselves from significant harm and ensure safe manual handling procedures are being used at all times.

The 5 principles of manual handling to reduce the risk of injury are as follows:

1. Plan - the first and perhaps the most important step. You should ensure you know the entire route to know if it's clear of obstacles.

2. Position - ensure your position is correct and use both hands whenever possible

3. Pick - when you pick up the inanimate object, maintain a natural motion and keep the load as close as possible to your spine. It's best to use your legs to perform most of the lifting work.

4. Proceed - when you are walking with the load, ensure an upright spine and avoid twisting, bending and reaching.

5. Place - ensure you lower it the same way as you picked it up. Never drop a heavy load or shove it in place.

The HSE suggest the following for safe manual handling techniques before and during the lift/carry:

- Remove obstructions

- Plan a rest midway on a table or a bench if you're carrying it for a long time

- Keep the load close to the waist

- Keep the heaviest side of the load next to your body

- Ensure you're in a stable position with one leg slightly forward to maintain balance. Ensure you don't twist the back or lean sideways

To put it simply, safe manual handling is important because if it goes wrong, people get hurt. Manual handling is one of the most common causes of workplace injuries and is the leading cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). According to HSE statistics, 6.6 million working days were lost due to MSDs in the UK.

Awkward postures, poor lifting techniques and failing to plan the route will all increase the risk of injury during manual handling tasks. You may think you only need the correct posture for heavy or large items, but it's not always about the weight of the item, it's how you carry it. While work involving heavy manual labour such as construction work is a higher risk, manual handling injuries happen to workers in all industries.

Manual handling is a legal requirement in all workplaces. Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employers are legally obliged to ensure all employees are trained and competent in manual handling. They have responsibilities to protect workers from harm, perform a manual handling risk assessment and conduct staff training. This is also part of the more general UK law, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which states organisations must prevent all risks to employee health and safety.

Our manual handling training course ensures you cover the relevant legislation and the correct techniques for safe manual handling in a workplace.

In accordance with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it is recommended to refresh your manual handling training every year to ensure safety.

Your certificate lasts 3 years, so you should renew your manual handling certificate prior to the expiration or earlier if there's a change in work relating to manual handling equipment or practices.