The Importance of Manual Handling Courses
Manual handling refers to any task that requires lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or moving objects by hand. While these activities may seem routine, they are responsible for a significant number of workplace injuries. To prevent as many of these as possible, it’s a good idea to invest in manual handling training for your team. Here’s what you can expect from the manual handling courses London delegates trust, along with some essential pointers for your team.
Preventing Injuries with Proper Lifting Techniques
Proper lifting techniques are one of the first things you will cover in aspects of manual handling training. When lifting heavy objects, employees should be taught to use their legs rather than their backs to lift the weight off the ground. You’d be surprised at how many people use the latter—which leads to so many injuries and prolonged back issues. Here are some other tips for safe manual lifting:
● Keep the load close to your body
● Use handles or grips where possible
● Bend your knees and keep your back straight
● Avoid twisting or bending at the waist
● Take breaks frequently and change positions often
Reducing the Risk of Slips, Trips, and Falls
Another vital aspect of staying safe on site is learning how to avoid slips, trips, and falls. These accidents can happen when floors are slippery, there’s a lot of debris on the ground, or when uneven surfaces aren’t noticeable. To prevent these incidents, employees should be trained to:
● Wear appropriate footwear
● Clean up spills immediately
● Remove obstacles from walkways
● Use warning signs to alert others of potential hazards
● Ensure lighting is sufficient in all areas
Assessing and Controlling Hazards
A core part of manual handling training involves teaching participants how to identify and assess potential hazards in the workplace. Attendees will learn how to spot high-risk situations, and then implement suitable control measures. Examples of these control measures might include redesigning tasks to eliminate unnecessary bending, rotating jobs to reduce fatigue, or providing mechanical assistance to staff members wherever it is possible.
Benefits of Manual Handling Training
Providing manual handling training not only helps prevent workplace injuries but offers benefits, such as:
● Improved employee morale: By investing in their health and safety, employers demonstrate care for their staff. This will lead to increased job satisfaction and motivation on site.
● Increased productivity: Fewer absences due to injury mean higher output levels, helping you to meet client demand and work to deadlines.
● Compliance with regulations: Meeting all regulatory requirements reduces the likelihood of any costly legal actions against your business.
What Next?
Manual handling training plays a pivotal role in creating a safe work environment, and coupled with other safety measures on site can have a huge impact. So why not get in touch with a trusted training provider today? In no time at all, you and your team could have the knowledge and skills you need to prevent a huge range of accidents in the workplace.
