Manual Handling Awareness for Office Workers

The Manual Handling Awareness for Office Workers eLearning course provides learners with an understanding of the risks associated with manual handling activities in office environments and the principles that can be applied to reduce the likelihood of injury.

The course explores common office-based manual handling activities, including lifting, carrying, moving and storing boxes, files, supplies and office equipment. Learners will consider how to assess handling activities, recognise factors that may increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury and apply safer handling principles within the office environment.

Who Should Attend?

• Office-based employees.
• Administrative and support personnel.
• Employees who occasionally lift or move workplace items.
• Employees responsible for handling deliveries, files, boxes or office supplies.
• Facilities and office support personnel.
• New starters requiring manual handling awareness.
• Managers and supervisors responsible for office-based employees.
• Anyone undertaking manual handling activities within an office environment.

What You Will Learn

• What is meant by manual handling.
• Common manual handling activities within office environments.
• How manual handling can contribute to injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Common office manual handling hazards and risk factors.
• Understanding the importance of avoiding hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable.
• Assessing a manual handling activity before beginning.
• Considering the task, individual, load and working environment.
• Recognising loads that may be heavy, bulky, unstable or difficult to grip.
• Considering individual capability and personal limitations.
• Recognising environmental factors that may affect safe handling.
• Planning an appropriate route before moving a load.
• Principles of safer lifting and handling.
• Maintaining a stable position when handling loads.
• Keeping loads appropriately positioned in relation to the body.
• Avoiding unnecessary twisting, reaching and sudden movements.
• Safe principles for lowering and placing items.
• Avoiding unsafe lifting from floors, shelves or storage areas.
• Awareness of safer pushing and pulling practices.
• Using appropriate trolleys and handling aids where available.
• Recognising when assistance from another person may be required.
• Handling office equipment, supplies and deliveries safely.
• Recognising when a handling activity should not be attempted.
• Reporting manual handling hazards, injuries or concerns.
• Following workplace risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Contributing to safer manual handling practices within office environments.

Course Delivery

This course is delivered as self-directed eLearning through the ELMO learning platform.

Learners can work through the course at their own pace and can move backwards and forwards through the learning content as required. The course does not need to be completed in one sitting, allowing learners to leave and return to their training where necessary.

Interactive activities may be included throughout the course to reinforce key learning points.

Assessment

Knowledge and understanding are checked through online assessment activities. Depending on the course content, these may include multiple-choice questions, matching exercises, drag-and-drop activities and image-based questions.

A minimum score of 70% is required to successfully complete the course.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the course and assessment requirements, learners will receive a UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Accredited Certificate of Training.

This is an awareness-based eLearning course and does not provide or demonstrate practical competence in manual handling techniques. Where manual handling activities present significant risks, employers must ensure workers receive appropriate task-specific information, instruction, practical training and supervision.

Course Duration

The course is self-directed and learners can progress through the content at their own pace. Completion time may therefore vary depending on the individual learner.