This short course is aimed at raising awareness of manual handling activities in the workplace. It will enable staff to look at the manual handling risks associated with their job, and the best ways to reduce the risk of any accidents occurring.

Topics covered are:

• Manual handling injuries and how they are caused
• Understanding the back
• Manual handling assessment – a 20 minute practical session looking at tasks familiar to the participants and ways of reducing the risk of injury
• Employees duties under manual handling regulations

This course is aimed at catering staff, kitchen porters and office staff who routinely carry out low risk manual handling activities. The full course (3 hours) is recommended for those staff carrying out higher risk manual handling activities.

A short course aimed at managers and supervisors of staff who routinely carry out low risk manual handling activities is also available.

1.5 hours in the workplace.

Training room or other suitable venue.

Almost a fifth of reportable accidents in the catering industry are caused by manual handling. Most manual handling activities are preventable. Injuries can be prevented by simply changing the way a job is performed, using mechanical aids, redesigning a task or improving workplace conditions.

Raising awareness of the risks associated with manual handling activities through practical training is essential to ensure staff safety.