FEAT RE MAT FEA ATURE


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EYIIN G Manual handl ng training: anual handling training : A “w aste of time andmoney” ?


Mentor Training, the UK’s leading training provider to the materials handling industry, is urging businesses to review the manual handling training delivered to staff after research from the HSE revealed that si ich in


Mentor Training, the U ’s leading train ater als handl ng i dust y,


lv in provider to th urging businesses t eview t


nual handl ng t aining del vered to staff after research from the HSE revealed that simplistic and “off the shelf” courses – which involve bending your knees to lift a cardboard box – are “just a waste of time andmoney” and do nothing to reduce risk


sti and “off the shelf” courses – to lift a card


“just a waste of ti e and m ney” and do not A


ccording to the latest figures, almost 9 million working days were lost to


musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) last year. Mentor is reminding employers that MSDs occur in all industries and across all ages and genders…and they aren’t always the type of catastrophic injuries you might associate with


Constant repetition of ‘l handling tasks.


ight’ tasks can manual


the UK’s aging workforce, injuries, developed over ti put staff at a high risk of


employers ensure the lon employees’ working lives.


.


me, and given cumulative


gevity of their it’s vital that


To address this, the HSE have issued advice on limiting the risk of MSDs in the workplace At their recen t Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Summit, health and work portfolio manager Geoff Cox recommended that employers take a holistic approach, starting with


reorganising and redesigning working practices, before looking at training requirements, to ensure manual handling processes are truly tailored to the needs of the workforce.


With regards to training and its role in effectively minimising ri sk, Mr Cox stresses: “This needs to be customised and professionally delivered. Any such training should be based on observations of current working practices and should be informed by the views and experience of the workforce.”


This is a view long advocated by Mentor, who has consistently emphasised the need for relevant


training, based around workers’ day-to- day tasks, as the most effective way of reducing the risk of serio us injuries on site, and offered tailored alternatives to generic manual handling courses.


As Mentor’s Technical Manager, Andy Cartwright, explains: “In our experience, training is most effective and engaging when content is as tailored as possible to the delegates attending. It needs to be


16 16 APRI MA 201 APRIL/MAY 2018 | IRISH MAN RISH MANUFAC ACTURI RING g t reduce risk


ensure it’s engrained during training, with hard-hitting, interactive content that really targets the behaviour at the root of bad practice.


“But not everyone faces the same risks. That’s why we offer a range of training packages from specialist courses designed for those with more physical roles to induction and refresher courses for those who handle less frequently but still need to be aware of risks that apply to them, to make sure everyone receives the guidance they need.”


,


In recent years, Mentor has worked with a variety of UK companies who have unique requirements, specific to their industry and operation, to develop bespoke training courses designed t o meet the particular needs of staff handling loads on their sites.


And, as per all of Mentor’s manual handling courses, delegates receive guidance on assessing the risk involved in a task and finding ways to reduce it, enabling employees to contribute towards site safety long after training is over .


ENSURING I IT’S RELEVANT TO ST Mentor is therefore welcoming this latest guidance and encouraging businesses to move away from generic courses and, instead, see the benefits of training learners using relevant scenarios,


ENSURING T’S R LEVANT TO STA TAFF


add, needn’t mean a demonstrations and


for your business. In fact, they assure that this


relevant and applicable to the industry and, more specifically, the job roles of those taking part. We’ve found that training scenarios that use companies’ own loads and working environments really help delegates to apply what they’ve learned.”


NOT O E-S T ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL E-FITS-ALL


Andy explains: “It’s not sufficient to put all staff through a generic course – without considering its relevance to their roles. When delegates are at high risk of a manual handling injury, it’s crucial they receive the comprehensive training required to recognise the hazards, and understand their potential consequences for their work and home life. So we


Image 1: Image 1: Manual handlManual handlinging


customised approach is not only good for your staff, but for your business, too. Andy explains: “To get the best returns on your training budget, it’s crucial tha t your course is not ju exercise. To see imp


rovements in long- st a ‘box-ticking’


term safety, while avoiding costly


distress, damage and disruption, it needs to make a real impact on your workforce, while being clear, concise and, above-all, relevant.”


“It’s not enough to simply familiarise delegates with generic examples of good and bad practice. At the end of the day, ignorance of the dangers is no defence against sustaining a potentially life - altering injury; training needs to be relevant and applicable to have a real effect on limiting risk.”


Mentor Training


www.mentortraining.co.uk T: 01246 555222


/ HSIRI IRISHMANUF www.mentortraining.co.uk


loads which, they huge cost-increase


MANUFACTURING FACTURING


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