People Moving & Handling Course
Comprehensive 1-day practical training for healthcare staff covering safe patient and resident handling techniques. This course incorporates risk assessment (TILEO) and ensures compliance with HSA, HSE, and HIQA patient/resident moving requirements. Learners will understand how to utilise equipment through recommended best methods and safe techniques while protecting the dignity of the patient/resident. On-site delivery with 2-year certification.
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Course Overview
The People Moving & Handling Course from Phoenix STS incorporates risk assessment and ensures that your organisation is compliant with HSA, HSE, and HIQA patient/resident moving requirements. Learners will understand how to utilise equipment through recommended best methods and safe techniques while protecting the dignity of the patient/resident.
People Moving & Handling Course delivered by Phoenix STS.
The first option should be to remove or reduce the need for manual handling. The HSA provides guidance explaining how this can be achieved. Just providing training will not reduce injury rates and will not protect anyone. The training needs to be specific and relevant to the tasks involved. If your job involves moving or supporting a person within a healthcare premise, the training should reflect this.
Why People Moving Training Matters
📊 Scale of the Problem
Manual handling activities cause a third of all workplace injuries reported to the HSA. Back injuries are a leading cause of work disability.
🔍 Task-Specific Training
Generic manual handling training is not enough. If your job involves moving people, your training must reflect those specific tasks and techniques.
⚖️ Legal Compliance
Employers must conduct risk assessments on all manual handling activities and implement appropriate control measures to avoid or reduce injury risk.
🛡️ Protecting Dignity
Safe handling techniques also protect the dignity and comfort of patients and residents during transfers and movements.
📋 TILEO Risk Assessment Framework
This course teaches the TILEO framework for assessing manual handling risks before any people moving task:
Task
What does the task involve?
Individual
Who is doing the handling?
Load
What/who is being moved?
Environment
Where is it taking place?
Other
Any other relevant factors?
🎯 Eight Principles of Safe Moving and Lifting
Think before handling
Adopt a stable position
Get a good hold
Start in a good posture
Keep the load close
Avoid twisting the back
Move smoothly
Know your limits
Course Aims and Objectives
Course Aims
- Inform learners of the concept of manual handling, people moving, risk assessment, and the extent of back pain and its causes
- Demonstrate to learners how to assess moving people safely while protecting the person’s dignity
- Highlight measures to reduce manual handling through organisational solutions, assisted techniques, and mechanical devices
Course Objectives
Upon completion, learners will be able to:
- Recognise unsafe and hazardous moving or lifting situations
- Carry out a manual handling risk assessment using the TILEO framework
- Understand and apply the eight principles of safe moving and lifting
- Understand relevant manual handling legislation in Ireland
- Understand the basic anatomy of the spine and musculoskeletal system
- Utilise measures to reduce common manual handling injuries
- Be aware of injuries that may result from incorrect handling techniques
- Ensure employers are compliant with relevant legislation
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for all staff engaged in people moving activities during their working day:
👩⚕️ Nursing Staff
🤝 Healthcare Assistants
👨⚕️ Care Workers
🏥 Home Care Staff
🛏️ Ward Assistants
♿ Disability Support Workers
Course Programme
This comprehensive programme combines theory and practical skills development:
Legislation & Theory
- Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005
- General Application Regulations 2007
- Ergonomics principles
- Musculoskeletal system overview
- Anatomy, structure, and function of the spine
- Posture and body mechanics
Safe Handling Principles
- Eight principles of safe handling
- Safe handling techniques
- Five basic manual handling lifts
- TILEO risk assessment framework
- Maintaining fitness
- Injury prevention strategies
Practical Techniques: Bed-Based
- Safe working height of beds
- Logrolling technique
- Sitting patient/resident up in bed (3 techniques)
- Moving patient/resident up the bed using sliding sheet
- Sitting patient/resident to edge of bed
Practical Techniques: Transfers
- Sit to stand and stand to sit
- Transfer from bed to chair (various methods)
- Use of banana board and other aids
- The falling patient/resident control techniques
- Demonstration in the use of hoists
Benefits of This Course
👤 For Individuals
Reduce Injury Risk
Learn correct posture, lifting techniques, and body mechanics to prevent back injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.
Build Confidence
Practical training builds confidence in handling patients and residents safely across different scenarios.
Career Progression
Essential certification for healthcare roles and prerequisite for advanced training like evacuation equipment.
🏢 For Organisations
Legal Compliance
Meet requirements under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and General Application Regulations 2007.
Reduce Workplace Injuries
Manual handling injuries are a leading cause of workplace absence. Proper training significantly reduces incident rates.
HIQA Compliance
Demonstrate compliance with HIQA requirements for patient and resident handling in designated centres.
Pre-Course Requirements
Before Attending
- English language proficiency: Training is delivered in English; learners must have fluency in English
- Appropriate clothing: Wear comfortable clothing suitable for an interactive and practical course
- Medical disclosure: Please inform the instructor of any medical condition relevant to the training, particularly practical work
- Specific requirements: Please let us know if learners have any specific learner requirements
Facility Requirements
The centre will be required to provide the following equipment on-site for this training:
🛏️ Bed/Profiling Bed
For practising bed-based techniques including positioning, transfers, and sliding sheet use.
♿ Wheelchair
For practising sit-to-stand transfers and bed-to-chair movements.
🏗️ Hoist
For demonstration and practice of mechanical lifting techniques.
📋 Sliding Sheets
For practising repositioning and transfer techniques.
Course Details
Duration
- Approximately 7 hours (1 day)
- Theory and practical combined
- Includes equipment demonstration
Class Size
- Maximum 10 learners
- Skill-based focus
- Adequate time for practice and demonstration
Training Methods
- PowerPoint presentation
- Physical lifting techniques and practice
- Equipment demonstration and practice
- Interactive Q&A sessions
Assessment
- 100% participation in practical work required
- Demonstration of safe techniques
- Competency confirmation
Certification
Your Certification
Upon successful completion of the People Moving & Handling Course, learners will receive a Phoenix STS Training Certificate.
Refresher training is required every 2 years to maintain certification and ensure continued competency in safe handling techniques.
Our Instructors
Our tutors are experienced in providing manual handling and people moving training within healthcare settings. They outline the essential duties and roles of staff in preventing injuries when performing manual handling and people moving tasks. All tutors hold:
Our instructors combine theoretical knowledge with practical application in healthcare settings.
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Page last updated: January 2026
