Manual Handling Course

What’s Included

Your course fee includes everything needed for effective training:

• Comprehensive Course Materials — printed handouts covering safe lifting principles and risk assessment

• CPD-Accredited Certificate — Phoenix STS Training Certificate valid for 3 years

• Theory Session — anatomy of the spine, injury mechanics, legal framework, and risk assessment principles

• Practical Session — hands-on lifting exercises tailored to your workplace loads and tasks

• Individual Assessment — each participant assessed on safe handling technique by the instructor

• Workplace-Specific Adaptation — course content tailored to your industry, loads, and working environment

• Post-Course Email Support — direct access to your instructor for guidance after the course

• Renewal Reminder Service — we’ll contact you before your 3-year certificate expires

What You’ll Learn

The course covers four core areas, combining theoretical understanding with practical skills.

Understanding Manual Handling Injuries

How the spine works, why back injuries occur, and the common causes of manual handling injuries in the workplace. Understanding the mechanics of injury is the foundation for prevention.

Legal Framework

Your obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the General Application Regulations 2007 (Chapter 4: Manual Handling of Loads). Employer duties, employee responsibilities, and the hierarchy of control for manual handling risks.

Risk Assessment

How to assess manual handling tasks before you start: evaluating the load, the task, the working environment, and individual capability. Practical techniques for identifying and reducing risk.

Safe Handling Techniques

Correct posture and body mechanics for lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing, and pulling. Team lifting techniques, use of mechanical aids, and adapting your approach for different load types and workplace conditions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

• Assess loads and manual handling tasks before commencing work
• Apply correct lifting techniques that minimise the risk of back injury
• Understand the anatomy of the spine and how manual handling injuries occur
• Identify manual handling hazards in your workplace and take appropriate action
• Comply with legal requirements under the 2005 Act and 2007 Regulations
• Use team lifting and mechanical aids where appropriate
• Apply the principles of safe manual handling to your specific workplace tasks

Course Programme

The 3-hour programme is delivered as a single session, combining classroom theory with practical exercises.

Theory Component (Approx. 1 Hour)

• Welcome and course introduction
• Anatomy of the spine and how back injuries occur
• Common causes of manual handling injuries
• Legal framework: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
• General Application Regulations 2007: Manual Handling of Loads
• Risk assessment principles for manual handling tasks
• The hierarchy of control for manual handling risks

Practical Component (Approx. 2 Hours)

• Instructor demonstration: correct lifting, lowering, carrying techniques
• Individual practice: safe lifting from floor, table, and shelf heights
• Team lifting and coordinated handling exercises
• Pushing, pulling, and load manipulation techniques
• Workplace-specific handling scenarios (tailored to your industry)
• Individual assessment: each participant demonstrates safe technique
• Course summary and certification information

Legal Requirements

Employers have clear legal obligations regarding manual handling in the workplace:

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005

The 2005 Act requires employers to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement measures to protect employees. Section 8 places a general duty on employers to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of employees, which includes managing manual handling risks.

General Application Regulations 2007 — Chapter 4

The General Application Regulations 2007 (Chapter 4: Manual Handling of Loads) specifically require employers to: avoid the need for manual handling where reasonably practicable; assess unavoidable manual handling tasks; reduce the risk of injury by providing training, mechanical aids, and appropriate work systems.

Employer Obligations

Employers must provide manual handling training to all employees whose work involves manual handling tasks. Training must be appropriate to the specific tasks performed and refreshed at regular intervals. Failure to comply can result in HSA enforcement action, fines, and potential prosecution.

Assessment and Certification

Each participant is individually assessed by the instructor during the practical component. Assessment covers safe lifting technique, correct posture, and understanding of risk assessment principles.

• Phoenix STS Training Certificate — issued upon successful completion, valid for 3 years

• CPD Certificate — confirming CPD hours (CPD Standards Office, Provider No. 22657)

• Certificate Validity — 3 years from date of issue

• Refresher Training — required before expiry to maintain compliance

• Renewal Reminder — Phoenix STS will contact you before your certificate expires

Our Instructors

All Phoenix STS manual handling instructors are experienced professionals with practical expertise in workplace manual handling training across multiple industries. Our instructors hold memberships with recognised professional bodies:

• IOSH — Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
• IIESMS — Institute of Industrial Engineers and Safety Management Systems
• IIRSM — International Institute of Risk and Safety Management
• L&DI — Learning and Development Institute of Ireland

Qualifications include BSc Environmental Health and Safety Management, Higher Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, and QQI Level 6 Train the Trainer. All instructors complete regular CPD to stay current with legislation and best practice.

Available Nationwide Across Ireland

Phoenix STS delivers the Manual Handling Course on-site at your premises anywhere in Ireland, and at scheduled public courses at our training centre in Longford.

We have delivered this course to organisations in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone, Sligo, Dundalk, Longford, and all counties across Ireland. On-site training is available at the same flat rate regardless of your location.

Contact us for an on-site training quotation or call 043 334 9611.

Related Courses and Services

Explore our other health and safety training courses and consultancy services:

• Safety Representative Training Course — 3-day HSA-aligned programme for Section 25 Safety Representatives. CPD certified.
• Fire Warden Training Course — 7-hour CPD-certified programme with practical fire extinguisher training. 3-year certification.
• Fire Safety Awareness Training — 2-hour on-site fire safety awareness programme for all staff.
• Evacuation Chair Training Course — 6-hour CPD-certified course for safe stair evacuation. 2-year certification.
• Health & Safety Consultancy — risk assessments, safety statements, audits, and ongoing health and safety support.
• Safety Statements — professional preparation and review of workplace safety statements.