Training Focus: Manual Handling of Loads

Training Focus: Manual Handling of Loads Explained by Acorn Health & Safety

Did you know that incorrect Manual handling causes over a third of all workplace injuries? These include work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as pain and injuries to arms, legs and joints, and repetitive strain injuries of various sorts, which accounts for significant sickness absence amongst the UK workforce and in many cases, minor bad habits simply go unnoticed for years as cumulative damage occurs.

The term manual handling covers a wide variety of activities and falls under The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) which applies to work which involves lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying.

If any of these tasks are not carried out appropriately there is a risk of injury.

Manual handling injuries can have serious implications for the employer and the person who has been injured. They can occur almost anywhere in the workplace and heavy manual labour, awkward postures, repetitive movements of arms, legs and back or previous/existing injury can increase the risk.

To help prevent manual handling injuries in the workplace, you should avoid such tasks as far as possible. However, where it is not possible to avoid handling a load, employers must look at the risks of that task and put sensible health and safety measures in place to prevent and avoid injury, including providing adequate Manual Handling training for employees.

We often find that employers are simply failing to assess the risk involved or providing inadequate ‘generic’ assessments.  In addition to placing employees at risk, in many cases, employers are failing to comply with their legal duties.

Training must also be fit for purpose, that is to say, reflect the types of work activity undertaken by employees.  Take time to develop programmes that meet specific needs, avoid simply ticking the ‘we’ve provided manual handling training box’ and moving on.  For example, if staff member’s job involves strenuous pushing and pulling activities, or they spend hours adopting fixed, static and sustained postures at workstations – why teach them to pick up a box?

The HSE website contains a wealth of useful information on musculoskeletal injury and whilst ordinarily, I don’t direct people to other sites, the team at Acorn have a passion for safe handling and the long-term ‘health’ of employers and employees alike.  If you don’t know your TILE from your RAPP, MAC, V-MAC and ART’s really not your thing, take a few minutes to visit the HSE Website

Acorn takes the time to gain an understanding of your manual handling requirements within your organisation to ensure we provide meaningful and relevant training. We are excellent at adapting courses to suit the particular customer needs and making manual handling training both relevant and enjoyable.

Our manual handling load course is aimed at support staff whose main role involves handling a variety of inanimate objects in the workplace. Particularly when delivered in-house, this course can be adapted to cover specific tasks such as pushing, pulling, transporting and supporting of a variety of loads and tie in with risk assessments, something else we can also help you with.

Our course programme employs a variety of teaching techniques to meet the needs of individual delegates and includes (but not restricted to) the following topics:

• Predisposing factors of musculoskeletal injuries
• Postural awareness and static loading
• Spinal awareness
• Principles of safer handling
• Legislation
• Risk assessment
• Unsafe practices
• Team handling

The emphasis on every course is to allow delegates to become confident in their skills through a range of theory and practical sessions as well as continuing assessment and feedback from the trainer.

To book one of our Manual Handling Open courses visit our website or contact us to discuss your specific needs in more detail.

Danny Street, Director