What is Manual Handling Training And Why Does Your Business Need it?

Manual handling is the process of lifting and carrying objects around the workplace. This can be anything from a box of copy paper to a warehouseman lifting much heavier objects throughout the day. Through the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), manual handling has been regulated since 1992. The regulations do not specify a maximum weight that a person can carry; instead, they focus on trying to turn manual handling tasks into mechanical ones and assessments of the tasks at any given business to determine whether they can be done in a safe manner.

Why does your business need manual handling training?

The short answer to this is that it is required by law. Laws established in 1974, as well as 1999, require employers to provide employees with training and information on working in a healthy and safe manner. The regulations indicate that businesses must work to help make sure that employees know how to properly lift, carry and set down items in a safe manner and to emphasise that safe manual handling is important.

Needless to say, the health and safety training varies from industry to industry. For e.g., if your employee’s job entails working at heights, a manual handling training just won’t be enough. You may want to enrol them in an online working at heights training course instead, in order to reduce workplace injuries.