Phoenix Health and Safety Blog

Safety in the workplace is of the utmost importance. It ensures that employees can go about their work without risk of injury and that companies don’t have the risk of litigation from injured employees. Health and safety courses exist to inform staff and employers how to be risk-free in the workplace. There are safety courses in a variety of different areas depending on the nature of the work undertaken. One of the most important is in manual handling.Manual handling presents some of the biggest risks in the world of work. It is estimated that around 30 per cent of work related injuries are caused by manual handling, with around 300,000 employees every year suffering from back pain caused by lifting incorrectly. Lifting injuries, while most commonly occurring in the back, can also occur in the legs, arms and even the heart. These injuries can take a long time to heal and have a profound effect on long term health.Manual handing training teaches employees how to lift correctly. It is beneficial to many different kinds of employees, even those whose jobs don’t involve heavy lifting. The training covers any activity that involves pushing, pulling, moving, carrying or restraining an object, person or animal. The courses will give employees an understanding of manual handling regulations, ergonomics and the principles of good body movement when lifting.Training in manual handling will inform employees and encourage them to take responsibility for their own safety. By sending staff of training courses, employers can help ensure the safety of their workers and reduce business hours lost to injury.