There were 31.2 million working days lost due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2016-2017, a large proportion of which were related to musculoskeletal disorders which in many cases are connected to poor manual handling.
A workforce trained in correct manual handling techniques is a workforce that presents a much reduced risk to an employer. Training may be considered disruptive and costly, but then so is the alternative.
When there is the option, however, to conduct manual handling training within the business rather than via external courses, things change considerably.
The benefits to businesses and organisations of having their own in-house manual handling trainers are manifold. This can be achieved by organising for your own selected personnel to attend manual handling train the trainer courses.
When choosing a course, however, it is essential to take a number of points into consideration in order to ensure you make a choice that will genuinely benefit your organisation.
Point 1: Trainer Experience & Qualifications
It is crucial that you choose a well-qualified and highly experienced health and safety training expert. The health and safety element is key because the topic of manual handling needs to be put into context. The training, qualifications and experience of the trainer are vital; without them there will be no engagement, and without engagement, there is no absorption or retention of vital information.
Point 2: Longevity & Continuity
Look for a training company that will give you continuity. A longstanding, well established training business will give you reassurance that it will be around the next time you need to engage its services. This allows you to maintain consistency in the messages and techniques that your trainers are putting across to your workforce.
Point 3: Engaging Training
A course that involves sitting participants down in front of a video, showing them how to lift a box and then telling them they need to handle items differently just because their employer says so is never going to have any sort of positive effect. An effective manual handling train the trainer course should concentrate on equipping trainers with a range of techniques that raise personal interest and give them an inventive to integrate sound handling principles into their daily lives. It is only through generating motivation and encouraging participation that a course can hope to achieve real, effective change.
The ORIGINAL City & Guilds Accredited Manual Handling Train the Trainer Course
Alistair Bromhead Limited offers the ORIGINAL City & Guilds accredited programme: manual handling training the trainer course, and has been working with the City & Guilds accredited centre of Proskills Global for over 12 years on such courses.
The programme offers a tried and tested approach with an established reputation that has been refined over the years.
Courses are open or can be tailored and run onsite. All courses are either delivered by Dr Alistair Bromhead himself, or one of four other presenters that have undergone extensive training. Dr Bromhead is CMIOSH (Chartered Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) registered. If you are booking an in-house course then your needs will be matched to the trainer with the most appropriate specialist skills and knowledge.
There is more information about the course content and how to book here. Open courses tend to fill up quickly once announced, so if you are looking to install your own in-house manual handling trainers in the near future, don’t waste any time!