Many people in many industries use their bodies at work every day to perform all sorts of physical tasks. It’s important in these cases for people to know how to carry out these tasks in a manner that does not harm them physically.
From the simple act of lifting a box off a shelf to the more challenging task of getting an elderly resident in a nursing home out of bed, these tasks can cause injuries. So Manual Handling training has been developed in order to train people in the best and safest methods to perform these various physical actions without injuring themselves or others.
Nurses and other health care workers, labourers on construction sites, storepersons in factories and warehouses, even office workers can all benefit from manual handling training.
Manual handling training covers a number of different aspects for different industries and professions but overall there are many common factors that everyone in manual handling training needs to know. Factors such as:
· Recognising which manual tasks may involve risk to yourself and others
· Identifying what are the actual risk factors that make the task hazardous
· Determining the nature and extent of the risk
· Understanding and following your organisation’s procedures for controlling hazardous tasks
· Organising workplace layouts, tasks and workflow appropriate to those procedures
· Preparing and packaging loads so that they are safer and easier to move
· Knowing how to select and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
· Ensuring you know a task is within your personal capabilities
· Using the appropriate posture and handling technique to reduce muscle load
· Selecting and knowing how to use mechanical aids and handling devices properly
· Pacing and scheduling manual handling tasks according to organisational procedures
· Identifying and reporting hazardous manual tasks to supervisors
· Knowing and using organisational procedures for reporting injuries to self and others
· Participating in workplace safety activities and contributing to improved manual handling
· Contributing to overall risk management
As you can see from this extensive list, manual handling training is very comprehensive and really does an excellent job of helping people in all sorts of industries to protect themselves and others and help contribute to a safer working environment for everyone.
Of course, for many roles in many industries, manual handling training is understandably compulsory. There are simply some tasks that you would not want someone carrying out if they were not trained to do so, because they would be at great risk to themselves and others.
If you think you need manual handling training or perhaps some of your staff do, please contact us at www.resultsfirstaid.com We can discuss your individual or organisational needs. As always our training is friendly, informative and easy.