NEWS
“THINK AGAIN” BEFORE INVESTING IN
OFF-THE-SHELF MANUAL HANDLING TRAINING
Off-the-shelf manual handling training should become a thing of the past, according
to new advice released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
N
ew musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) advice has been
issued by the HSE to help employers to decide what
type of help they need to tackle the MSD risks in
their workplace. The web-based advice illustrates different
approaches with examples and identifies who may be able
to help address their needs.
The web based advice has been developed with the
input and involvement of businesses, trade unions, trade
bodies, training providers, professional bodies, and safety
professionals and consultants.
Launching the web-based advice at its inaugural MSD
Summit on Wednesday 22 March 2018, HSE’s Health and
Work Portfolio Manager Geoff Cox 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.
“The overall aim is to avoid and reduce manual handling,
and that’s where employers should start if their workforce
faces manual handling risks. Don’t start with training - start
with re-organising and redesigning your working practices.
“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. As such, training
should be based on observations of current working
practices, and should be informed by the views and
experience of the workforce.”
Organisations involved in developing the web guide
include EEF, Unite the Union, RoSPA, IOSH and BSIF, among
many others. Terry Woolmer, Head of Health and Safety
Policy at EEF said:
“The new web-based advice won’t tell you how to resolve
your MSD issues but it will help you decide what types of
approaches suit your business and where to get the help
you need.”
National Health and Safety Advisor
for Unite the Union, Susan Murray
said:
“The key point from the web-based
advice is the importance of involving
workers in all aspects dealing with
manual handling solutions – the
people who do the work often come
up with the best answers.”
Health and Safety Consultant at RoSPA, Roy McKee said:
“The web-based advice recognises training has a
place in the hierarchy of controls for manual handling
and also its limitations. It allows the risk profile of the
company to dictate the level of competence and extent
of help necessary rather than a person’s accreditation or
qualifications. Where previously, SME’s might not know
where to go for assistance in ergonomic interventions or
workplace designs, hopefully the web guide will change
this.”
Commercial Director at Pristine Condition, Phil Bladon
said:
“The web-based advice should make employers think
about what sort of help they need. Where a training need
is identified, it’s now broadly accepted that conventional
approaches aren’t particularly effective. Instead, the
training must be practically-orientated, relevant and
engaging for the individual, making it more likely that it’s
adopted at the “coal face”, and critically, be part of a far
more comprehensive system for changing manual handling
behaviour in the long-term.”
Chief Executive Officer of the BSIF, Alan Murray:
“It’s simple and straightforward – the web-based advice
should set businesses in the right direction.”
The full web-based advice can be viewed at: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/external-help.htm
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HSE INTERNATIONAL