Manual Handling of Inanimate Objects Awareness

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this Manual Handling training course, either via e-learning or webinars, learners should know and understand the following:

• Ability to demonstrate correct lifting and manual handling procedures
• Understand the importance of correct manual handling to minimise the risk of injury
• Understanding of hazards
• Understand that manual handling operations can be hazardous to health
• Knowledge of the risks of manual handling
• Understand how manual handling operations can cause injury and harm
• Recognition of legal requirements and responsibilities
• Understand the scope of legal requirements with regard to manual handling operations in the workplace
• Ability to perform manual handling risk assessments
• Know how to perform manual handling risk assessments and understand how they apply to safe manual handling practice

Frequently asked questions

We’ve gathered the most frequently asked questions our manual handling training experts receive and provided answers to them below!

If there are any more queries you have, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.

What is Manual Handling?

Manual Handling is best defined by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: “… any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof by hand or bodily force.)”.

Ensuring manual handling is managed correctly is crucial to reducing the risk of injury. Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, it is the business owner’s responsibility to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place and steps are taken to reduce the risk from manual handling accidents – including the provision of training, PPE and other measures. Otherwise, this can open your business up to potential lawsuits and fines.

What does MHOR stand for?

MHOR is an abbreviation of Manual Handling Operations Regulations. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 is the Health and Safety legislation

What does TILE stand for in manual handling?

The 4 key areas of manual handling are the nature of the task, the capabilities of the individual, the characteristics of the load and the layout of the environment. TILE is an acronym for manual handling safety, meaning:

T – Task – assessing the task at hand can help gauge the distance you need to travel, the number of people that need to carry it and whether you need to lift or twist whilst carrying it.

I – Individual – choosing the right person or people to lift is vital to reducing the risk of injury. Things to consider are their age, strength, health conditions, the equipment they possess and whether they need specialist training.

L – Load – think about how heavy the load is, if it’s an odd shape, if it’s difficult to hold or obstructs the carrier’s view. A load is anything which is moveable.

E – Environment – make sure to have a look at the layout of your environment. There could be a restricted area that you aren’t allowed in, the ground may be slippery or uneven or the lighting is poor.

These 4 key areas should be considered when carrying out a manual handling risk assessment. You should also instruct your employees to use TILE before they begin the manual handling process. This can help them protect themselves from significant harm and ensure safe manual handling procedures are being used at all times.

What are the 5 principles of manual handling?

The 5 principles of manual handling to reduce the risk of injury are as follows:

1. Plan – the first and perhaps the most important step. You should ensure you know the entire route to know if it’s clear of obstacles.

2. Position – ensure your position is correct and use both hands whenever possible.

3. Pick – when you pick up the inanimate object, maintain a natural motion and keep the load as close as possible to your spine. It’s best to use your legs to perform most of the lifting work, avoiding any lateral movements.

4. Proceed – when you are walking with the load, ensure an upright spine and avoid twisting, bending and reaching.

5. Place – ensure you lower it the same way as you picked it up. Never drop a heavy load or shove it in place.

What are safe manual handling techniques?

The HSE suggest the following for safe manual handling techniques before and during the lift/carry:

– Remove obstructions

– Plan a rest midway on a table or a bench if you’re carrying it for a long time

– Keep the load close to the waist

– Keep the heaviest side of the load next to your body

– Ensure you’re in a stable position with one leg slightly forward to maintain balance. Ensure you don’t twist the back or lean sideways

Why is safe manual handling important?

To put it simply, safe manual handling is important because if it goes wrong, people can suffer serious injuries. Manual handling is one of the most common causes of workplace injuries and is the leading cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). According to HSE statistics, 6.6 million working days were lost due to MSDs in the UK.

Awkward postures, poor lifting techniques and failing to plan the route will all increase the risk of injury during manual handling tasks. You may think you only need the correct posture for heavy or large items, but it’s not always about the weight of the item, it’s how you carry it. While work involving heavy manual labour such as construction work is a higher risk, manual handling injuries happen to workers in all industries.

Is manual handling a legal requirement?

Manual handling is a legal requirement in all workplaces. Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employers are legally obliged to ensure all employees are trained and competent in manual handling. They have responsibilities to protect workers from harm, perform a manual handling risk assessment and conduct staff training. This is also part of the more general UK law, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which states organisations must prevent all risks to employee health and safety.

Our manual handling training course ensures you cover the relevant legislation and the correct techniques for safe manual handling in a workplace.

How long does manual handling certificate last?

In accordance with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it is recommended to refresh your manual handling training every year to ensure safety and comply with any regulatory or guidance changes.

Your certificate lasts 3 years, so you should renew your manual handling certificate prior to the expiration or earlier if there’s a change in work relating to manual handling equipment or practices.

What does manual handling training involve?

Manual Handling training teaches workers everything they need to know about safe techniques in order to reduce the risk of injury. This includes how to lift, put down, push, pull, carry, or move objects.

What does MHOR define as loads?

Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR), a load is anything which is moveable. This can be an animal, person or object.

Delivery Methods

Our online Manual Handling training courses are available 24/7, anytime, anywhere. Perfect for staff with busy schedules or difficult shift patterns.

• Study when you want

• Track staff progress

• Study anywhere you want on any device

Get Certified

Just follow these four simple steps, sit back, relax and let us do the hard work for you and your team.

Book A Course Book this online Manual Handling training course by calling us or sending us a message.

Login Once everything has been booked, you will receive login details for you and your staff.

Complete Course Complete the Manual Handling course you purchased in the delivery method you chose.

Become Certified Great! Now you’re certified and can download your Manual Handling of Objects certificate from the portal.

Great! Now that you’re certified, you can download the Manual Handling of Inanimate Objects Awareness certificate from the portal or request a certificate, and we will email it to you in PDF form.