Manual handling

“Think Before You Lift!”

Manual Handling Training – Practical Skills for Real-World Safety

Poor manual handling is one of the leading causes of workplace injuries—but it’s also one of the most preventable. This hands-on training course is designed to give your team both the knowledge and practical skills they need to move loads safely, confidently, and in line with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR).

Through a mix of interactive theory and real-world practical exercises, learners will:

• Understand the risks of unsafe lifting and how injuries occur

• Learn to assess manual handling tasks before taking action

• Apply correct lifting techniques in a controlled environment

• Explore ways to reduce strain and improve posture

• Gain insight into risk assessments and control measures

What you'll learn

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Explain what is meant by manual handling.

  • Explain the legal duties on employers to first, avoid risks, then assess and control the remaining risks of manual handling.

  • Explain the legal duties on employees to carry out safe manual handling.

  • Identify the most common causes of injury and potential long-term damages to health as a result of unsafe manual handling techniques.

  • Identify what makes an effective manual handling risk assessment.

  • Apply techniques to avoid manual handling.

  • Identify techniques to control risks, for example, lifting and handling aids.

  • Apply techniques to manually handle loads safely.

Perfect for any workplace where manual handling is part of the job, this course empowers your team to work smarter, safer, and in full compliance with health and safety standards.

Why Take This Course?

Every year in the UK, thousands of workers experience injuries, aches, and long-term discomfort affecting their muscles, joints, and bones—many caused by poor manual handling practices. The risk is significantly higher when workers lack proper training or awareness of how to handle loads safely.

Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR), employers have a legal duty to protect their staff from harm caused by lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling tasks. Failure to meet these obligations can result in enforcement action by the HSE or other regulatory bodies.

Our Manual Handling blbpmbs Training helps both employers and employees understand their responsibilities:

• Employers will learn how to comply with MHOR, reduce risks through better planning and design, and ensure safe systems of work are in place.

• Employees will gain practical knowledge of safe lifting techniques, understand why following procedures is crucial, and learn how to protect themselves and others on site.

Injuries from manual handling are preventable, not inevitable. This course empowers your workforce to work smarter, safer, and with confidence—while helping your business stay compliant and reduce avoidable absences and costs.

How it works….

On the course

At a glance…

6 - 12 delegates

Half day course

No qualifications or PPE required

This training course is delivered on-site at your location or at a training centre location and typically lasts half a day, No formal qualifications are needed to attend, making it accessible to all experience levels. Group sizes are kept small, usually between 6–12 delegates, to ensure focused, hands-on learning. Delegates are not required to bring any PPE for this training course

Module 1: The Importance of Safe Manual Handling

This module introduces the fundamentals of manual handling, highlighting the risks associated with poor technique—such as injuries and long-term musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). It also explains the legal responsibilities of both employers and employees in preventing manual handling injuries and promoting a safer working environment.

Module 2: Manual Handling Risk Assessment

This module explains how to carry out an effective manual handling risk assessment using the five-step process. It introduces the LITE framework—focusing on the Load, Individual, Task, and Environment—to help identify risks and implement practical control measures for safer manual handling.

Module 3: Avoiding and Controlling Manual Handling Risks

This module explores strategies to eliminate or reduce manual handling risks, starting with avoidance, followed by automation or mechanisation where possible. For tasks that cannot be avoided, the module provides practical guidance on how to control and minimise risks to ensure safer handling practices.

Module 4: Safe Manual Handling Techniques

This module combines theory and practical lessons to demonstrate how to carry out manual handling tasks safely. Learners will practice correct lifting techniques, safe methods for pushing and pulling, and effective team handling strategies. Hands-on activities reinforce proper technique, helping reduce the risk of injury in real work environments.

Assessment

At the end of the course, learners will complete a theory-based assessment to confirm their understanding of key manual handling principles and practices.

The assessment includes multiple-choice questions covering:

• Risks and consequences of poor manual handling

• Legal responsibilities of employers and employees

• Risk assessment processes, including the LITE framework

• Techniques for lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling

• Best practices for individual and team handling

For courses with a practical component, learners will also take part in a hands-on assessment, demonstrating correct lifting techniques and safe handling methods in real-world scenarios.

Successful participants will receive a Certificate of Manual Handling Training, recognising their competence and commitment to workplace safety.