Manual Handling Training (Theory & Practice)

 

Course Overview – What the Training Involves

This Manual Handling training programme combines essential theory with practical, hands-on learning to ensure participants can carry out manual handling tasks safely, efficiently, and in compliance with current health and safety legislation.

The course covers:

• Legal responsibilities under Health & Safety legislation

• Employer and employee duties

• Principles of safe manual handling

• Basic anatomy of the spine and injury prevention

• Common causes of workplace musculoskeletal injuries

• Risk assessment for manual handling tasks

• Safe systems of work

• Reducing and avoiding manual handling where possible

Practical Component

Participants will take part in supervised practical sessions, including:

• Safe lifting techniques

• Carrying loads correctly

• Pushing and pulling safely

• Team lifting principles

• Applying risk assessment thinking before completing a task

The practical element ensures participants can demonstrate correct technique and confidently apply manual handling principles to real workplace scenarios.

 

About the Trainer – Barbara Walsh

Barbara Walsh is an experienced manager within disability and community services in Ireland, with extensive frontline and leadership experience.

Barbara is also a qualified Special Education Teacher and has experience working as a Special Needs Assistant in Ireland. This background provides her with a strong understanding of workplace realities, risk management in practice, and the importance of safe systems of work across different service environments.

She has a strong focus on:

• Health & safety compliance

• Risk assessment and injury prevention

• Safe systems of work

• Translating policy into practical, real-world application

Her training style is practical, engaging, and grounded in real experience, ensuring participants leave not only informed but confident in applying safe manual handling techniques in their own workplace.