A manual handling operation may be defined as "any transporting or supporting of a load (including lifting, putting down, pushing pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force."

 Approximately one third of all injuries reported to the enforcing authorities are due to incorrect manual handling. Over £100million a year is lost due to injuries at work associated with incorrect manual handling. A major contributor factor is the lack of proper training, supervision, information and instruction.

 Injuries to the back, shoulders, neck, hands, arms and feet mostly result from moving heavy or awkward loads, restricted space, carrying loads up and down stairs and awkward movements such as reaching, stooping and twisting.

 The Manual Handling Operations (MHO) Regulations 1992 apply to manual handling operations, defined as “any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or by bodily force”.

Employers are subject to a clear hierarchy of measures to meet duties under the regulations:-

1.To avoid hazardous MHO so far as is reasonably practicable

2.To assess any hazardous MHO that cannot be avoided

3.To reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable.

 Employees have duties too. They should:

● follow appropriate systems of work laid down for their safety;

● make proper use of equipment provided for their safety;

● co-operate with their employer on health and safety matters;

● inform the employer if they identify hazardous handling activities;

● take care to ensure that their activities do not put others at risk.

Our Manual Handling Awareness Training will cover:

● manual handling risk factors and how injuries can occur;

● how to carry out safe manual handling including good handling technique (‘Good handling technique for lifting’ and ‘Good handling technique for pushing and pulling’);

● appropriate systems of work for the individual’s tasks and environment;

● Awareness of the use of mechanical aids;

● practical work to allow the trainer to identify and put right anything the trainee is not doing safely.

 Who the Course is For

This course is designed for employees who have to carry out manual handling tasks from office based lifting to factory based production line duties.

 Learning Outcomes

• Understand the function of the spine & how unsafe manual handling techniques can lead to acute & cumulative injuries.

• Understand the requirements of the Manual handling Operations Regulations 1992 & associated guidance.

• Recognise manual handling hazards within the workplace & have an understanding of the concept of risk assessment & safe systems of work.

• Adopt the safe handling principles associated with kinetics.