Manual Handling Awareness
Protect your back, shoulders and hands with practical lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling technique.
About this course
Welcome to this Fairbrass Training awareness course on manual handling. Manual handling injuries — mainly to the back, shoulders and hands — are among the most common causes of lost-time injury reported across UK workplaces, including construction, warehousing, healthcare and retail.
This course explains the risks of lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling loads, and gives you practical, everyday techniques to reduce the chance of injury to yourself and others.
The course runs entirely in your browser. You can stop at any point and pick up where you left off, and once you pass the final assessment you can download a PDF certificate straight away.
Who it's for
- Site operatives and labourers
- Warehouse, delivery and stores staff
- Supervisors carrying out TILE assessments
- Anyone who lifts or moves loads at work
Snippets from the course
Two short extracts taken straight from the course material, so you know exactly what you're signing up for.
What is a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)?
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries or conditions affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, discs or nerves. In a manual handling context they commonly include:
Task
Task factors relate to how the job itself is carried out. Consider:
What's covered
Welcome and Introduction
- Welcome to Manual Handling Awareness
- Who this course is for
- What the course covers
- How the tests and pass mark work
The Law and Duties
- The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
- Employer duties
- Employee duties
- Weight guidelines are not legal limits
The Spine, Musculoskeletal Disorders and Injury Causes
- How the spine works
- What is a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)?
- Common causes of manual handling injury
- Sudden injury versus cumulative damage
Avoiding Manual Handling and Using Aids
- Can the handling be avoided?
- Mechanical aids and equipment
- Choosing the right aid for the task
- Modifying the task and the load
TILE Risk Assessment
- Introducing TILE
- Task
- Individual
- Load
Safe Lifting Technique, Lowering, Pushing and Pulling
- Preparing to lift
- The lifting sequence, step by step
- Lowering a load safely
- Pushing and pulling
Team Lifts, Awkward Loads and Difficult Conditions
- When a team lift is needed
- Carrying out a team lift safely
- Handling awkward or unstable loads
- Confined spaces and restricted areas
Summary and Putting It Into Practice
- Recap of the key principles
- Before you lift — a quick mental checklist
- Reporting problems and near misses
- Looking after yourself long term
Final assessment
A longer multiple-choice assessment covering every module. Score 80% or more and your PDF certificate is issued immediately. You can retake it as many times as you need.
Start Manual Handling Awareness now
8 modules, a test after each one and a final assessment — all in your browser, all saved as you go.
You'll be asked to sign in or create a free account first, then pay £29.99 (includes VAT at 20%) to unlock the course. Your progress and certificate are saved to your account.