Manual Handling
E-Learning Course
Practical Assessment:
Online or onsite
Classroom Course
Practical Assessment:
Classroom
Video Conference Course
Practical Assessment:
Online or onsite
Manual Handling Safety Awareness
All MKD Safety course formats are fully compliant.
This manual handling course can be taken in a classroom setting, as an e-learning course with practical assessment to follow, or delivered by one of our tutors through a video conference, including practical assessment for immediate certification.
What is a Manual Handling Task?
According to the HSA a Manual Handling Task, is a task involving the movement of a load which poses a risk of injury particularly to the back. The risk of injury can be due to unfavourable ergonomic conditions, the characteristics of the load or a combination of the two.
Moving a bag of coal by hand is an obvious Manual Handling Task. What may not seem as obvious is when unfavourable ergonomic conditions are involved, such as getting a ream of paper from the bottom shelf of a cupboard or from a high shelf. This is also a Manual Handling Task. Is is not the load that presents the risk, but the posture and movements required by the body to access and move the load.
Course Modules Outline:
- What is Manual Handling, Why do we need training?
- Legislation – Legal Requirements
- Anatomy & Back Care – how to prevent injury
- Biomechanics – using the body efficiently and safely
- Ergonomics and Risk Assessment
- Mechanical Equipment – to avoid or reduce Manual Handling
- Fitness & Flexibility
- Principles of Safe Moving – how to lift and carry correctly
- Skills Demonstration
- Practical assessment
- Written test
- Successful trainees receive a certificate valid for 3 years.
Manual Handling in the Workplace
Manual Handling is a physical activity that takes place in every workplace. In some cases the activity does not pose a problem. However it can be a potential workplace hazard when an employee is required to handle heavy, bulky, unstable or difficult loads. Performing manual handling tasks in unfavourable ergonomic conditions can result in a back injury. Unfavourable ergonomic conditions produce the largest percentage of back injuries and MSD’s
Avoid or Reduce Manual Handling Risks:
It is necessary to carry out a risk assessment of existing manual handling tasks before making an informed decision on which tasks need to be avoided or reduced. Employers must then take steps to avoid or reduce the risk of injury. The main concern with manual handling activity is the increased risk of injury due to wear and tear on the back. Back injuries are painful and reduce mobility, they can also lead to long absences from work.