5 benefits of manual handling training for support workers
Regardless of your support work, your job most likely calls for some form of manual handling.
Legislation defines manual handling an any activity that requires energy to lift, push, pull, or otherwise move an animate or inanimate object.
If you think about it, there are countless times a day where support workers perform a range of manual handling tasks for their clients.
Manual handling training is imperative for everyone everywhere. If you are still doubtful about providing manual training for your support workers, here are five reasons to convince you otherwise:
1. Support Workers Become More Cautious
If manual handling training is mandatory for workers, they will become more mindful of the risk of injury. This will motivate them to be more cautious to protect themselves from serious injury. As workers use safer and proper techniques for lifting and manually moving heavy loads, their risk of injury becomes lower.
2. Training Promotes Effective Communication and Discussion
Open communication and effective brainstorming can follow when support workers and employers go through manual handling training together and have a meeting about the training afterwards. This results in better safety procedures being executed and put to use. In short, workers are more likely to follow the procedures that are implemented if they feel involved.
3. Employees Become More Responsible
When support workers receive manual handling training, they become more aware that they must also do their part by following the safety procedures and using the devices available to keep themselves safe from harm. In other words, workers will understand that they are also responsible for their safety and that the organisation can only do so much to keep the workplace safe.
4. Workers Can Use What They Learn Outside of Work
By taking manual handling training, workers and managers will learn how to do many of the manual operations safely, reducing the risk of injury. Moreover, the tips they learn from the training can help the company comply with OHS/WHS laws. The knowledge and information gained can also be applied outside the workplace. For example, you can use what you have learned to reduce the risk of sustaining an injury when working around the house.
5. Manual Handling Training Saves Money
Compensable workplace injuries often result from manual handling, some of which take several months to recover from, and those who sustain an injury may never recover. Not only does this cost your company a considerable amount of money, but it also affects the financial health of the injured support workers family. Manual handling training can reduce workplace injuries by half, saving your company money and benefiting the workers’ families.
Premium Health Manual Handling Training
Support work comes with a form of manual labour and risks of injury. However, if you know how to lift and move people and loads properly and safely, your risk of injury and everyone in the workplace can be minimised.
Here at Premium Health, we’re pleased to offer a range of Manual Handling courses that will cover efficient practices on how people and loads can be moved, lifted and handled safely.
If you’re looking for a manual handling course for your organisation, please get in touch with us today.
Interested in seeing how training can benefit your business and keep your staff engaged? Talk to us at Premium Health. We can also help you select the delivery method best suited to your organisation.