In manual handling training, employees of a company are taught the proper, safe, and scientific way of handling heavy items by dint of pushing, carrying, lifting, pulling, or lowering them. The importance of manual handling training is that it prevents employees from workplace injuries and introduces them to the right method of handling cumbersome and heavy loads. 

Employers are legally bound to safeguard their employees. If a normal day in the life of the employee involves handling heavy loads, then manual handling training is essential to avoid dangerous, unpleasant incidents and accidents at the workplace. 

The law dictates that employees have a right to refuse manual handling if they feel that there is a considerable risk of injury to them. If that is not feasible, the risk of injury should be minimized as far as is humanely possible. This is possible with risk assessment and an in-depth understanding of the processes involved in manual handling. 


Common workplace injuries


Some of the common injuries concerning manual handling are neck and back injuries, slips and falls, injuries to the joints, stress fractures, hernia, cuts and bruises, broken bones, strains, and sprains, as well as an occupational overuse syndrome.


Manual handling training teaches employees the correct way of going about their tasks so that there is no or minimal risk of injury to them. Manual handling training in Sydney also teaches employees to identify injury risks and ways to combat them effectively. 


With effective manual handling training, the employees can:

  • Understand the reasons for safe manual handling
  • Understand the fact that with effective manual risk assessment comes improved safety and health.
  • Understand the testing requirements, principles, and different types of equipment that are related to safety in manual handling. 
  • Apply the principles of manual handling to their jobs.

After undergoing manual handling training, you can safely expect your employees to accomplish tasks that involve pushing, heavy lifting, restraining, and pulling without risking injury. 


This will not only empower your employees to complete physical tasks with competence and accuracy but also reduce absenteeism and workman compensation claims.