Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of workplace injury in the UK. Most of these injuries are caused by manual handling, which means any activity involving lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Proper training can prevent these injuries. Here is what employers across Cumbria and the rest of the UK need to know.
What Counts as Manual Handling?
Manual handling covers more than just heavy lifting. It includes:
- Lifting boxes or stock
- Moving patients or residents in care settings
- Pushing trolleys or cages
- Carrying equipment or materials
- Repetitive tasks like stacking shelves
- Loading and unloading vehicles
If your staff move anything by hand or bodily force, manual handling applies. This is relevant to a wide range of Cumbrian industries, from hotels and restaurants in the Lake District to farms in the Eden Valley and care homes across the county.
What the Law Requires
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 place duties on employers to:
- Avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable
- Assess risks from manual handling that cannot be avoided
- Reduce the risk of injury as far as reasonably practicable
- Provide information and training
Training is not optional. Employees who carry out manual handling tasks must understand the risks and how to work safely.
Who Needs Manual Handling Training?
Any employee whose job involves manual handling should receive training. This includes staff in:
- Warehouses and distribution
- Care homes and healthcare
- Retail and hospitality
- Offices (yes, even moving boxes of paper counts)
- Construction and trades
- Schools and education
- Agriculture and farming
What Training Covers
Good manual handling training teaches employees to:
- Recognise tasks that pose a risk
- Assess loads before lifting
- Use correct lifting techniques
- Know their own limits
- Use mechanical aids where available
- Report problems and concerns
The goal is practical knowledge that staff can apply every day, not just theory.
Online or In Person?
Both options are effective, and we offer both through Cumbria Fire and Safety Training.
Online training works well for:
- Office based staff
- Initial awareness training
- Refresher training
- Staff in multiple locations across the UK
Our online courses are delivered through our VideoTile Learning platform and can be completed at your own pace from anywhere in the UK.
In person training is better when:
- Tasks involve specific techniques (such as patient handling in care homes)
- Practical demonstration is needed
- You want team discussion and questions
Many employers use a combination. Online for general awareness, in person for job specific skills.
Book Your Manual Handling Training
We offer manual handling training online through our VideoTile platform for staff anywhere in the UK, or in person at your premises across Cumbria. Our courses are CPD accredited and meet the requirements of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations.
Check our upcoming course schedule or contact Cumbria Fire and Safety Training on 01768 807258 or email info@cumbriafiresafetytraining.co.uk to discuss your training needs.
Further Reading
- HSE Manual Handling Guidance: hse.gov.uk/msd/manual-handling
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: legislation.gov.uk