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Manual Handling in the Workplace Training

This Manual Handling in the workplace training is designed for anyone who needs to lift heavy items as part of their role, as well as the supervisors and managers of these workers. This manual handling course covers the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and outlines manual handling risks, and how to educate staff about them in order to protect their health and safety at work.

This course was reviewed and updated in February 2025

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Course Overview

Format

  • Intermediate
  • 30 to 45 Minutes
  • Online Study
  • Self-Printed Certificate

Accreditation

  • 1 CPD Hours
  • CPD Certified
  • RoSPA Assured

Course description

This engaging online Manual Handling training gives you practical knowledge to prevent workplace injuries when handling loads. As one of our essential health and safety courses, it delivers critical skills in just 30-45 minutes.

Manual handling injuries affect half a million UK workers annually, with back injuries being the leading cause of workplace absences. By law, employers must protect their workforce—and this training helps you meet those legal obligations while reducing costly downtime.

Learn proper lifting techniques, understand the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, and discover how to identify and minimise risks in your specific work environment. Whether you're a manager responsible for team safety or an employee who regularly lifts items, this course provides the tools you need to create a safer workplace.

Who should take this Manual Handling in the Workplace training and why?

This course is primarily aimed at anyone who may need to lift items as part of their duties, however, the information is applicable to any workplace environment.

Our Manual Handling in the Workplace course helps employers meet their legal health and safety obligations, educating them about how to protect their workforce, and subsequently their wider business.

This manual handling training course is designed for anyone who needs to lift heavy items as part of their role, as well as the supervisors and managers of these workers. This could be delivery drivers, removal contractors, construction workers, retail assistants, office workers, bar staff, chefs, kitchen assistants, maintenance workers, plumbers, labourers, mechanics, builders, decorators, gardeners and landscapers.

What does this Manual Handling course cover?

Our Manual Handling in the Workplace course covers a wide range of topics for anyone needing training on how to lift loads correctly and safely.

Module What it includes
Introduction and Learning Outcomes To start the manual handling training course this section explains the learning outcomes of the training and allows you to complete a self-assessment to rate your knowledge of the topic. 
Understanding Manual Handling Basics Here we explain what manual handling is, the impacts it has if done incorrectly, the effect it can have on your body and the different types of manual handling accidents. The section finishes with a knowledge check to ensure you have fully understood the training so far.
Mindful Approaches to Manual Handling This part reiterates the importance of manual handling, explains how you can you keep yourself safe whilst lifting and how you can prevent an accident. This section also has three scenario based audio clips which can also be read via the transcripts provided.
Hazards and Risks There are many risks and hazards associated with manual handling and this part of the course explains why you should avoid manual handling where possible, it defines the TILEO abbreviation, how to ask the right questions and provides five manual handling scenarios.
The 'SMART' Lifting Techniques Manual handling should never be rusihed into and the 'SMART' techniques provides practical steps to take in the workplace.

After completing this e-learning course, learners will be able to:

  • Understand why you need to know how to move and handle objects correctly
  • Know key manual handling regulations
  • Understand the responsibilities of employees and employers with regard to manual handling
  • Know the basic theory of how the spine works, common injuries and how to avoid them

Manual Handling Course for Health & Safety in the Workplace Legislation

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations are the most significant when it comes to this area of safety, sometimes incorrectly referred to as the ‘manual handling act’.

This dedicated piece of legislation is designed to help employers and employees manage, control and ultimately reduce the risk of injuries that might come about from poor manual handling practice.

One of the most important elements of the legislation is that, when it came into force in 1993, it placed a requirement on employers to take action in respect of manual handling and ensured that they had a responsibility to their employees.

Manual Handling Training Certificate

At the end of our Manual Handling in the Workplace course, there is a test to complete, with 17 multiple choice questions. You need to achieve a pass mark of 80%, but you can take the test as many times as is required.

Learners will be able to download a digital manual handling training certificate on completion of the course. This can be printed, and we suggest you keep it for your records. The content of this training has been independently certified as conforming to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.

How can I improve my manual handling knowledge?

Increase your understanding of manual handling with our range of articles including 'TILE in Manual Handling', 'Why is Manual Handling Training so Important' and 'Manual Handling Risks and Procedures'.

We also offer a wide range of related online courses including Manual Handling and First Aid Training Package, First Aid, Manual Handling and Personal Safety for Lone Workers Training Package and Health and Safety at Work Training Package.

You will learn

  • An explanation of what manual handling is, types of manual handling, why it is important
  • Discussion of the consequences of manual handling accidents and who is responsible for what
  • Identifying ways to avoid manual handling and how to prevent accidents with a risk assessment
  • Describing an easy and practical method to lifting objects in a way that will prevent injuries

Who is it for?

Roles including:

  • This course is for anyone who needs to lift items as part of their duties or just as-and-when needed
  • Delivery Drivers
  • Removal Contractors
  • Construction Workers
  • Retail Assistants
  • Office Workers
  • Bar Staff
  • Chefs
  • Kitchen Assistants
  • Maintenance Workers
  • Plumbers
  • Labourers
  • Mechanics
  • Builders
  • Decorators
  • Gardeners
  • Landscapers

Manual Handling in the Workplace FAQs

  • How long is Manual Handling in the Workplace valid for?

    While Manual Handling in the Workplace does not technically run out, it is best practice to renew it every three years. However, we at Virtual College are constantly updating our courses to keep up to date with Health & Safety regulations and guidance, therefore some organisations encourage retaking each year.

  • Is it a legal requirement to complete Manual Handling Training?

    Employers are required by law to take reasonable steps to safeguard the health and safety of all employees. One of which is increasing awareness about the hazards related to manual handling and outlining what can be done to minimise risk.

  • What will Manual Handling in the Workplace cover?

    Manual Handling in the Workplace covers the following:

    • The law

    • The responsibilities of employees and employers

    • The spine

    • Moving and handling objects safely

  • Can manual handling training be done online?

    Yes. This Manual Handling online training is designed for anyone who needs to lift heavy items as part of their role, as well as the supervisors and managers of these workers. This manual handling course covers the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and outlines manual handling risks, and how to educate staff about them in order to protect their health and safety at work.

    See more Manual Handling courses here.

  • Does manual handling training expire?

    It can vary, but most manual handling certificates last for between three to five years. There is no set requirement, but it is recommended that refresher training should be provided at least every three years or whenever there has been a significant change in work practices.

    See all manual handling courses here.

  • How long is manual handling training?

    This course takes approximately 1-2 study hours to complete. The course is self-paced so learners decide how fast or slow the training goes. There is no deadline for completion but some of our courses have a test at the end to check that learners have understood the material.

  • Is manual handling training a legal requirement in the United Kingdom?

    Under the Manual Handling Regulations you are legally obliged to ensure all employees are trained and competent in manual handling if their responsibilities may include manual handling. You can see more FAQs about manual handling here.

How the online courses work

  • Find a course

    To begin searching for your online training you can click on the course category section on our website and browse through all of our training categories.

    Alternatively if you already know the title of the training you’re looking for you can use the search bar located in the centre of the homepage and go directly to the course you want.

  • Buy the course

    When buying one of our courses, you will need to enter a valid email address which will be used to create your account with our Learning Management System – Enable – where you will take the training. We will also send your purchase receipt to this email address, and any additional courses purchased in future using the same email address will be added to your system account.

    Once you have purchased a course, you will be able to send this course to other people using your system account with Enable by entering the new learner’s email address so that they may access the training and set up their own system account with our Learning Management System.

    If you are not 100% satisfied with your course then we offer a 30-day, no hassle money-back guarantee. To request a refund, you should email our learner support team with your receipt stating why you would like to be reimbursed. You, or your learners, must not have completed the training in order to make a valid refund claim. Any claim made after the training has been completed will be invalidated.

  • Take the course

    This online course consists of a series of pages in which an instructor will talk learners through the lesson material. Pages may include supporting pictures, graphs, animation or extra sounds to help with the learning where appropriate. Some lessons will include challenges/quizzes to help learners stay engaged and interested in the material. Lessons can be taken in any order and each lesson may be paused and resumed at any stage.

    The course is self-paced so learners decide how fast or slow the training goes. There is no deadline for completion but some of our courses have a test at the end to check that learners have understood the material. If the course has a test at the end then learners are required to achieve a 75% pass mark to successfully complete the course. Once learners have passed the test they are awarded a certificate, which can either be downloaded digitally or sent as a physical copy if this option was chosen when purchasing the course.

  • Your Certificate

    Upon completion of any of our courses, learners will be able to download a digital certificate from Virtual College which will include the accrediting bodies logo where applicable, the learner's name, the title of the course and the date of completion.

    If you have purchased the posted certificate option, available on selected courses, a high quality, seal embossed, certificate will be sent out the following working week after completion.