Manual handling is any task that requires an individual to transport or support a load by hand or bodily force. This includes any type of physical labor, ergonomics, or repetitive activities like manual lifting, putting down, carrying, pulling, pushing, or moving a load. Some examples of manual handling tasks include packaging or lifting boxes, operating hand tools or other machinery, assembling products, pulling or pushing trolleys, and cleaning. If your employees are engaged in these types of activities, they are highly vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries and other related disorders.
According to a UK Labor Force Survey, an estimated 693,000 workers reported non-fatal injuries due to manual handling in 2019. In the same year, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there were around 2.8 million non-fatal injuries and illnesses incurred. Meanwhile, Safe Work Australia states that there was a total of 114,435 occupational injuries and diseases reported in Australia from 2018 to 2019. Some of these ergonomic injuries include lifting and fall-related injuries like muscle sprains, back injuries, hernias, cuts, soft tissue damage, foot injuries, and neck injuries.
According to OSHA, employers have a responsibility to ensure that their business’ manual handling operations are carried out correctly so that workplace injuries and accidents are minimized. As an employer, one of the first steps you can take to avoid these hazardous risks and protect your employees is to implement manual handling training.
Manual handling training aims to prepare employees with the right knowledge and skills to safely tackle manual handling and material-handling activities and reduce their risk of injury. Depending on your field of work, training lessons can cover topics such as lifting techniques, proper machine operation, risk assessments, or warm-up and posture tips before starting tasks.
To give you a broader picture, here are a few examples of jobs that require manual handling training:
