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When the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced in 2018 that off-the-shelf manual handling training should become ‘a thing of the past', unfortunately the statement was misinterpreted by some employers as meaning that manual handling training wasn't necessary. This however could not be further from the truth and could be a very risky misunderstanding.

The HSE announcement was centred on research revealing that general training in lifting techniques was an ineffective way to control the risks of manual handling within businesses. However, these findings did not mean that there was no place for manual handling training.

Fresh MSD advice released

With the HSE announcement came the issue of fresh musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) advice designed to help employers decide the best type of help needed to deal with the specific MSD risks faced within their individual working environments. The web-based advice was the result of a collaborative effort amongst professional bodies, safety professionals and consultants, trade unions, training providers and businesses.

This is what the HSE, via their health and work portfolio manager Geoff Cox, actually said: "Our research shows that simplistic training involving bending your knees to lift a cardboard box is just a waste of time and money, it just doesn't make any difference.

"If you do need staff training, and there are many residual risks where this is the case, then this needs to be customised and professionally delivered. Any such training should be based on observations of current working practices, and should be informed by the views and experience of the workforce."

What should manual handling training involve?

In other words, where a risk assessment highlights the need for manual handling training, that training should not be generalised courses in lifting techniques, as these are not effective in controlling the risks. Instead, businesses should be looking to arrange professional training that is tailored to the specific risks faced, and the content of the training should be influenced by the very people who are involved in the handling tasks.

The HSE also stressed that employees should be trained not solely on the basics of lifting, but also on how to eliminate risks, automate tasks and use handling aids, all of which is in line with its guidance on the Regulations (L23).

Manual handling training should therefore include all of these elements:

• Assessment and prioritisation of manual handling risks
• Understanding how injuries can occur during manual handling tasks
• Advice on measures of control and whether they are cost effective
• The use of mechanical aids to assist manual handling tasks
• Safety during manual handling and good handling technique
• Handling systems that suit the specifics of the task and the environment
• How to identify and tailor management systems aimed at preventing and reducing risks
• Advice on how to involve employees
• Methods of monitoring and measuring performance

In summary

Any employer which has interpreted the HSE's 2018 advice on MSD management as having meant that manual handling training is no longer necessary could find itself in hot water should an incident arise that leads to HSE or insurance investigations.

Manual handling training is still a vital element in the campaign to manage work related musculoskeletal disorders, providing it is not just based around how to lift boxes. The HSE guidance set out in L23 is that which should be followed.