Rank: Forum user 
|
Hi,
Could anyone please offer some advice on the following:
Is it a legal requirement for all members of staff that are conducting manual handling activities to be manual handling trained and certified?
Or is it simply a case that as long as you have risk assessments in place, official manual handling certification is not required?
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Many thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
The findings from the risk assessment will decide this for you.
What are the tasks, are we talking office environment or factory floor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
It depends on the assessment, there are only three things you can do to reduce risk for manual handling, remove the person, provide equipment and provide training. Training to provide competency need not be certified, but certification of some sort may add to the value of the training. The important thing for training is that it is appropriate for the activities and risks, and that is informed by the assessment, and any other competency evaluation you undertake.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
"there are only three things you can do to reduce risk for manual handling, remove the person, provide equipment and provide training" Not sure I agree. How about making loads smaller, job rotation, improve the ergonomics so that less bending/stretching/twisting is involved, making the loads easier to handle such as providing hand cut outs in cardboard boxes, more regular clearing of floors to remove trip hazards, improve lighting/heating etc, etc. But in answer to the OP, no, the legal requirements are to risk assess, eliminate, reduce, provide equipment provide training and provide PPE. If after the first 4 requirements have been carried out the "worst case" is picking up something of pen sized weight, then no training would be required. This: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg143.pdf tells you everything you need to know!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
When I joined my present company no one had been through any induction of any sort, so from the MD down I put them through safety requirements and manual handling presentation which included a hands on practical. Whilst most items are rarely not heavier than a box of copier paper and usually the weight of a full lever arch file, all new starters now cover this subject. Five years on and people seeing the new starters going through the manual handling training have an indirect refresher, so far I've had no reported back injuries at all this year (that's jinxed it). This covers both office and shop floor staff. As for certification all attendees sign a training record to confirm participation. So they do not receive a cert but are certified indirectly and by attempting to taken holistic approach my injury stats have fallen.
Hope this helps?
Ramble over
Badger
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Jay
In reply to your specific question, 'Is it a legal requirement for all members of staff that are conducting manual handling activities to be manual handling trained and certified?'
a valid short answer is simply 'No'.
Depending on the complexity and frequency of risks of manual handling injuries, a suitable and sufficient
assessment of the risks calls for a scientifically based understanding of relevant applied ergonomics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: New forum user
|
Is it appropriate and reasonably practicable for you to provide Manual handling training?
If yes, but you choose not to carry it out and someone is injured, then under section (4)(1)(B)(11) of the Manual Handling Operations regulations(MHOR) 1992, you could be deemed to have failed in your legal duty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
In the context of S.2 of HASAWA, if there is a significant risk arising from manual handling operations, then there is an obligation to provide SFARP supervision, information, instruction and training.
No requirements for certificates, but entirely reasonable (and prudent) to keep records of training, additional instruction and information and training outcomes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.