Manual Handling
A six-part course covering the theory behind safe manual handling practice: the injuries bad technique causes, the law and how to assess risk, the biomechanics of safe lifting, moving and handling people specifically, and the ergonomics and equipment that make it all safer. This is a theoretical course and should be combined with practical, hands-on training relevant to your role.
Introduction to Manual Handling
Course aims, the qualifications this course maps to, key terms you'll use throughout, and why manual handling injuries are such a big deal in health and social care.
Injuries Caused by Manual Handling
External and internal injuries, and the main musculoskeletal disorders — muscular strain, torn ligaments and tendons, cartilage damage, hernias, prolapsed discs and sciatica.
The Law & Risk Assessment
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employer and employee duties, and the TILE(O) framework for assessing and reducing risk.
Biomechanics & Safe Lifting Technique
How levers and forces act on your spine, safe lifting principles, recommended lifting limits, pushing and pulling loads, and team handling.
Moving & Handling People
Agreed ways of working, giving a helping hand, dignity and respect, care plans, assisting people to move, dealing with falls, and bariatric and hoist skills.
Ergonomics, Equipment & the Law
Ergonomic design, specialist equipment, the PUWER and LOLER regulations, infection control, and equipment safety checks.
Why this course is in six parts
Manual handling injuries are the single biggest cause of work-related sickness absence in health and social care, so there's a lot of real, practical ground to cover — from recognising an injury, to the law, to the specific techniques for lifting objects versus moving people. Rather than one long document, each part stands on its own and covers one coherent topic, so you can complete them in order or jump straight to the part most relevant to your role.