Manual Handling in the Workplace

Course Description

Manual handling regulations are in place to safeguard the health and safety of workers, and it’s vital that employers undertake manual handling training to educate themselves about their responsibilities.

Employers are required by law to take reasonable steps to safeguard the health and safety of all employees, one of which is increasing awareness about the hazards related to manual handling, and outlining what can be done to minimise risk. Health and Safety Executive data shows that failure to follow recommended manual handling techniques is one of the main factors behind musculoskeletal disorders among UK workers. Some 159,000 new cases of these conditions were recorded in 2016-17 alone.

What’s more, back injuries are the number one reason for workplace absences, and one-third of all injuries requiring three or more days off from work are caused by manual handling incidents. This can be extremely costly for businesses in terms of lost productivity.

As a result, it is vital that employers understand manual handling risks and know how to educate their staff about them in order to protect their health and safety at work.

Who should take this course and why?

This course is primarily aimed at anyone who may need to lift items as part of their duties, however the information is applicable to any workplace environment.

Our Manual Handling in the Workplace course helps employers to meet their legal health and safety obligations, educating them about how to protect their workforce, and subsequently their wider business.

This course is designed for anyone who needs to lift heavy items as part of their role, as well as the supervisors and managers of these workers. This could be Delivery drivers, removal contractors, construction workers, retail assistants, office workers, bar staff, chefs, kitchen assistants, maintenance workers, plumbers, labourers, mechanics, builders, decorators, gardeners and landscapers.

What does this course cover?

Manual Handling in the Workplace covers the following lesson plan:

• Introduction
• The law
• The spine
• Moving and handling objects safely
• Summary

After completing this e-learning course, learners will be able to:

• Understand why you need to know how to move and handle objects correctly
• Know key manual handling regulations
• Understand the responsibilities of employees and employers with regard to manual handling
• Know the basic theory of how the spine works, common injuries and how to avoid them

Manual Handling Course for Health & Safety in the Workplace Legislation

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations are the most significant when it comes to this area of safety, sometimes incorrectly referred to as the ‘manual handling act’.

This dedicated piece of legislation is designed to help employers and employees manage, control and ultimately reduce the risk of injuries that might come about from poor manual handling practice.

One of the most important elements of the legislation is that, when it came into force in 1993, it placed a requirement on employers to take action in respect of manual handling and ensured that they had a responsibility to their employees.

Manual Handling Course for Health & Safety in the Workplace Course Certificate

At the end of our Manual Handling in the Workplace course, there is a test to complete, with 15 multiple choice questions. You need to achieve a pass mark of 85%, but you can take the test six times at no extra charge if necessary.

If you require extra attempts to pass, this can be arranged by contacting the Virtual College support team.

Learners will be able to download a digital certificate on completion of each course. This can be printed, and we suggest you keep it for your records. The content of this training has been independently certified as conforming to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.