How Long Does a Manual Handling Course Last?

              

How Long Does a Manual Handling Course Last?

A common enough question that we often get asked. But it has two answers. The length of the manual handling course varies by provider, and the certificate is usually valid for 3 years.

Many companies believe that in-person manual handling courses are best, and a half-day course is about 3–4 hours long. However, in-person courses that involve practical exercises, such as lifting a box, are now frowned upon. This is because, unless you are a professional box lifter, the practical training won’t suit your normal job tasks.

Consequently, online training lasting around 2 hours is now the preferred method for learning the theory of the physical demands of manual handling and the importance of adopting proper techniques to prevent strain or injury.

The practical learning required to carry out tasks safely now needs to be conducted on-site while a person is performing their specific job tasks.

The relevance of training stems from the fact that 17% of all workplace injuries are caused by manual handling, which costs the UK workforce 7.8 million working days a year.

Certification is an important outcome of completing a manual handling course, as it serves as proof that participants have acquired the necessary knowledge to address tasks safely. However, having knowledge does not mean that a participant has acquired the necessary skills required to perform tasks safely. Turning knowledge into practical skills requires on-the-job training.

If a person spends most of their working day shovelling and using a wheelbarrow, they will need to be shown how to do this safely on site, which complements the theory training they gained on a manual handling course.

So, to answer the question of “How Long Does a Manual Handling Course Last?”, it must be broken down into two components. The online theory training takes about two hours to complete, but further practical training must be given at the workplace.