Posted By MS
Morning
I am investigating an accident where a trainer gave manual handling training but only in the form of a Powerpoint presentation. There was no physical demonstration and assessment to ensure the delegates had received the information and could actually manual handle their workplace loads safely.

Who is at fault? Employer for not ensuring that the trainer/training was adequate, bearing in mind you are paying a reputable company for their expert advice.

Or the trainer for not carrying out training to an adequate standard?

Many thanks

Mark

Posted By LJ
MS,
As an employer it is your responsibility to ensure 'the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees' Section 2 HASAWA.

By carrying out risk assessments you would identify training needs i.e. manual handling training,
you would then identify training objectives i.e. what do I want the training to achieve -employees to be able to lift,move items safely,
what methods is the training provider going to use to achieve these objectives- will these methods help me meet my objectives- in this case no.
Finally you should evaluate effectiveness of that training.

LJ

Posted By Dave Merchant
Unless the trainer supplied you with a course outline and then didn't follow it, the "fault" is entirely with the employer. Even if they did deviate from their pre-arranged course it's solely a matter of contract law and not of H+S; as the employer you're responsible as LJ has indicated.

It's worth remembering that manual handling is one of those topics where 'training' is not an absolute standard - there's no approved syllabus or BS, so some people use practical demos and some don't, but the effectiveness of the training can be equally good. It's down to the trainer's ability to make people remember things, as there's absolutely no difference in terms of skills transfer between seeing a slideshow of someone lifting a box, seeing an instructor lift a box or being asked to lift one yourself. The accidents come when delegates forget (or decide not to bother with) the things they've been taught, and that's down to the employer's SSOW and supervision measures.

Posted By Dave Merchant
That sort of thing happens on occasion, but shouldn't. If the course does include delegates doing practical exercises then the items being lifted should be light - as with handling of a more personal nature it's about technique not strength. An empty box is just as good as a full one if all you're trying to do is keep your ass under your head. The only place I can see full-weight training being required is in patient handling where the techniques need the right momentum.

The problem of the instructor putting their back out carrying their paperwork, laptop and projector half a mile from the car park is another issue entirely!