According to a Fit for Work Europe study, over 2.5 million people in the UK visit their GP with back pain each year and at any one time, 33 per cent of the UK population are suffering with back pain.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures state that an estimated 439,000 workers suffered from musculoskeletal disorders during 2011/12 which were caused or made worse by their current or past work. In the region of 176,000 of these suffered from a bad back.
The cost to the economy of such issues is quite staggering, with an estimated 7.5 million working days lost during 2011/12.
The HSE reports that manual handling is one of the most frequent causes of workplace injury aside from slips and trips and falls from height: precisely why investment in manual handling training has to be a priority.
Of course it is fully understandable that with budget cuts, it can be a real challenge to find the funds to provide adequate training in the workplace. One of the sectors where we find this an issue most is local councils. However, the good news is there is a solution.
Our City & Guilds Manual Handling Train the Trainer course offers direct cost saving potential for councils that need to be careful with budgets. The cost of training one in-house trainer (£625 plus VAT) will typically be paid back after just one to two days of manual handling training having been delivered in the workplace by that trainer. This comparison is based on hiring an external trainer to provide the one to two days of training.
The City & Guilds course from Alistair Bromhead Ltd offers further benefits for council staff:
Nationally recognised certificate: Insurers and regulators are always keen to ensure quality training is being provided and will therefore look for official certificates.
Trainer pack: Keeping trainees interested and enthused is vital if they are to recall what they learn. Our trainer pack is a comprehensive set of resources for trainers to implement into their courses. They reduce preparation time and ensure the best possible quality of training.
Industry-Specific Experience: We have worked with numerous councils and truly understand the handling issues associated with the varied tasks undertaken by employees. We have provided tailored training in a range of disciplines including refuse collection, estates management, facilities management and for library and administrative staff.
For further information or to book an in-house, bespoke course email info@abromhead.co.uk or call 07932 674707.