IOSH Manual Handling (Load Handling) Instructors Course - Belfast

Dates: 2nd, 9th, 16th Aug 2017

Course Introduction

It is appropriate for staff working within a diverse range of working sectors which include:

Construction, Manufacturing, Engineering, Healthcare sector, Offices, Retail and all Public Sectors (where no client handling is required)

Aims

To train senior staff in instructional skills and the theoretical and practical aspects of manual handling

of loads to the standard required by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992) and the Safety, Health & Welfare Act 2005 (ROI). This training in turn will equip individuals with the knowledge and training techniques required to carry out in-house training within their respective organisations.

Objectives

By the end of the course the learner will be able to:-

Discuss up to date legislation relevant to manual handling

Appraise current research that is pertinent to the practice of manual handling within the working environment

Explain the anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system and recommend preventive measures which can reduce the risk of injury among staff

Explain the manual handling risk assessment process and assist managers and senior staff to carry out such risk assessments.

Implement common sense solutions at work and encourage the use of appropriate equipment.

Demonstrate effective teaching and facilitation of learning with both individual learners and small groups within the workplace.

Method:

Theoretical instruction with practical interactive workshops.

As is our company policy, we only ever permit experienced staff and where possible appropriately qualified health & safety personnel to attend the ‘Training for Trainers’ course. This is because there is a legal requirement to ensure that those advising and training others in safer manual handling practice have the appropriate skills and knowledge.

Guidance from the Royal College of Nursing, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and the Health and Safety Commission give the legal requirements on training in manual handling, and these are as follows:

There are 6 essential pre-training requisites as below: -

1. There must be a training needs analysis carried out to identify what training is required
2. There must be adequate policies and procedures in place to promote best practice and staff fitness
3. There must be management commitment and support for the training strategy and service delivery to ensure compliance with standards of training and advisory provision each Work Setting will need a robust education programme for staff.
4. Those involved in the provision of training and advice must have adequate time to perform their duties, protected time to provide training and adequate recognition and support. Training must be specific to staff needs, and be job specific according to level required. Length of training must be sufficient to encourage and develop a change in knowledge, attitude and skills. Demonstrations alone are not sufficient; all staff must have time to practice and develop skills under close supervision.
5. There must be allocation of sufficient resources by management to implement, develop and deliver the service in accordance with policies and procedures. The suggested minimal duration per person for load handling i.e – ancillary and administrative staff per session is 2 ½ hours to include both theory and practical annually. For higher risk operations i.e Construction or heavy industry we consider the training duration may take longer i.e one day but the time is left very much to the discretion of the trainer.
6. The person specification for a manual handling trainer in inanimate load handling (foundation level) is as specified below: -

The Manual Handling Trainer

• Must have attended a post basic course in moving and handling, including an element of teaching
• Must have experience of working within the work setting and should be able to demonstrate knowledge of relevant legal influences in the field, an understanding of ergonomic principles involved, and of the risk assessment processes required.
• Must demonstrate a practical problem solving approach to Moving and Handling issues
• Must be physically capable of demonstrating good practice
• Must promote minimal lifting, use of equipment and ergonomic changes to minimise risks to staff
• Should demonstrate efforts to keep abreast of developments in the field, by attendance at meetings, conferences and seminars.
• All trainers during their 3 days training will be made aware of the standard elements of the training and the importance of audit and review. A strategy for recall and update for their staff on at least an annual basis must be in place.
• To ensure that guidance from the Royal College of Nursing, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Health and Safety Commission are adhered to, we will require all trainers to attend for 1 day update training on an annual basis or we will be unable to reissue to them a certificate.

This should be supported by:

Adequate provision of Occupational Health support/advice

Adequate advice to managers on an individual’s capability to perform safer manual handling techniques following periods of prolonged absence/ill-health

An appreciation by employees that they must report any physical restrictions which may impact on their ability to practice safer manual handling techniques e.g. pregnancy, back problems, musculo-skeletal disorders.

Course Modules

• Module 1 - Relevant Legislation – Professional Accountability To meet both UK and ROI requirements
• Module 2 - Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Spine, Causes and Preventive Aspects of Back Injury
• Module 3 - Risk Assessment – An Ergonomic Approach
• Module 4 - Principles of Safer Load Handling
• Module 5 -  Instructional Skills - Running a group training session

Method of Assessment

Assessment will be carried out by Health Matters (Health & Safety) Ltd and moderated by IOSH

Achievement of the objectives of the course will be assessed by;

A written paper in the form of an objective multi choice test/short answers (30 in total). The duration of the test will be 45 minutes (Pass Rate is 55%)

A practical assessment involving a candidates ability to deliver a training session to their peers within the group (min 10 minute / max 15 minutes duration)

Certification

An IOSH Load Handling – Training the Trainer certificate is awarded to all who attend the course and successfully complete the written and practical assessments.

To ensure that guidance from the Royal College of Nursing, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Health and Safety Commission are adhered to, we will require all trainers to attend for 1 day update training on an annual basis with Health Matters plus reassessment by IOSH every third year, or we will be unable to reissue to them a certificate.

Duration: 

• 3 Days