Manual Handling Course

Lesson 1 • Regulatory Framework and Employer Duties

Outlines the legal hierarchy governing manual handling, from general duty-of-care principles to specific regulations. Clarifies employer and worker obligations.

Lesson 2 • Scope and Importance of Manual Handling

Defines manual handling and its prevalence across industries. Connects injury statistics to the business and human cost of poor practice.

Lesson 3 • Common Injuries and Their Causes

Identifies musculoskeletal disorders, sprains, and cumulative trauma linked to manual handling. Explains how posture, load, and frequency combine to cause harm.

Lesson 1 • The TILE Risk Assessment Model

Applies the Task, Individual, Load, and Environment framework to evaluate manual handling risk. Learners practise scoring each factor against standard criteria.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Hazard Identification

Covers systematic methods for spotting manual handling hazards in the workplace. Builds the observational skills needed before formal assessment begins.

Lesson 3 • Recording and Reviewing Assessments

Explains documentation standards for risk assessments and the triggers for review. Ensures assessments remain current and legally defensible.

Lesson 1 • Environmental Factors Affecting Risk

Addresses floor surfaces, lighting, temperature, and space constraints that amplify manual handling risk. Links environmental controls to risk assessment findings.

Lesson 2 • Workstation Layout and Reach Zones

Covers optimal workstation height, reach distances, and item placement to minimise strain. Learners apply reach-zone diagrams to real task layouts.

Lesson 3 • Load Design and Packaging Considerations

Examines how load shape, weight distribution, and grip points affect handling risk. Guides learners in specifying safer load design upstream.

Lesson 4 • Applying the Hierarchy of Controls

Structures ergonomic interventions within the elimination-to-PPE hierarchy. Learners prioritise controls by effectiveness and feasibility.

Lesson 1 • The Kinetic Lifting Technique

Teaches the step-by-step kinetic lift: stance, grip, back position, and leg drive. Learners practise each phase in isolation before combining them.

Lesson 2 • Lowering Loads Safely

Covers the controlled reversal of the lift sequence for safe set-down. Addresses the common tendency to rush the lowering phase.

Lesson 3 • Biomechanics of Safe Lifting

Explains how spinal load changes with posture and distance from the body. Provides the mechanical rationale behind every element of safe lifting technique.

Lesson 4 • Preparing to Lift: Pre-Lift Checks

Establishes the assessment steps taken before any lift begins. Reduces improvised lifting by building a consistent pre-lift routine.

Lesson 1 • Pushing Technique and Force Management

Teaches correct body position and force application for pushing wheeled equipment and loads. Addresses starting force versus sustained force requirements.

Lesson 2 • Pulling Technique and Associated Risks

Identifies why pulling is generally higher risk than pushing and teaches safer alternatives. Covers situations where pulling is unavoidable.

Lesson 3 • Safe Carrying Principles

Covers load position, travel distance limits, and posture during carrying. Connects carrying biomechanics to the lifting principles already established.

Lesson 4 • Wheeled Equipment and Trolley Use

Covers selection, loading, and manoeuvring of trolleys and wheeled carts to reduce manual force. Includes pre-use inspection of equipment condition.

Lesson 1 • Multi-Person and Team Lift Coordination

Extends coordination principles to lifts involving three or more people. Addresses height differences, corner turns, and communication breakdowns.

Lesson 2 • When to Use Team Lifting

Defines the load weight, size, and shape criteria that require team lifting. Prevents both under-use and over-reliance on team lifts.

Lesson 3 • Types of Mechanical Handling Aids

Surveys the range of mechanical aids from sack trucks to pallet jacks and hoists. Matches aid type to task characteristics and load weight.

Lesson 4 • Coordinating a Two-Person Lift

Teaches the communication protocol and synchronised movement required for a safe two-person lift. Covers role assignment and command structure.

Lesson 1 • Handling in Confined and Restricted Spaces

Adapts lifting and carrying technique for areas with limited headroom, narrow aisles, or obstructions. Emphasises pre-task planning in constrained environments.

Lesson 2 • Fatigue, Repetition, and Cumulative Risk

Examines how repetitive handling and fatigue accumulate to cause injury over time. Introduces work-rest ratios and task rotation as cumulative risk controls.

Lesson 3 • Outdoor and Construction Site Handling

Addresses uneven terrain, weather conditions, and heavy construction materials. Connects site-specific hazards to risk assessment and control selection.

Lesson 4 • Patient and People Handling in Healthcare

Covers the unique risks of moving patients or clients who may be uncooperative or unpredictable. Introduces person-centred handling principles and slide sheets.

Lesson 1 • Auditing Manual Handling Practices

Provides a structured audit methodology to verify that controls and training are effective in practice. Covers audit planning, observation, and corrective follow-up.

Lesson 2 • Building a Continuous Improvement Culture

Embeds Plan-Do-Check-Act cycles into manual handling management. Engages workers in identifying improvements and sustaining safe behaviours long-term.

Lesson 3 • Incident Reporting and Investigation

Establishes a no-blame reporting culture and a structured investigation process for manual handling incidents. Converts incident data into preventive action.

Lesson 4 • Performance Monitoring and Key Indicators

Identifies leading and lagging indicators for manual handling safety performance. Teaches data collection, trend analysis, and reporting to management.