Manual Handling Awareness for Retail Workers

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

The course explores common retail manual handling activities, including lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling stock, deliveries and other workplace items. Learners will consider how to assess handling activities, recognise factors that increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury and apply safer handling principles within retail workplaces.

Who Should Attend?

• Retail employees.
• Shop floor and stockroom personnel.
• Employees responsible for receiving and handling deliveries.
• Warehouse and replenishment personnel working within retail environments.
• Employees who regularly move stock, products or equipment.
• New starters undertaking manual handling activities.
• Managers and supervisors responsible for retail employees.
• Anyone undertaking manual handling activities within a retail workplace.

What You Will Learn

• What is meant by manual handling.
• Common manual handling activities within retail environments.
• How manual handling can contribute to injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Common retail 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 stock or other loads.
• 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 stock and other items.
• Risks associated with repetitive handling and stock replenishment.
• Awareness of safer pushing and pulling practices.
• Using appropriate trolleys, handling aids and other equipment where available.
• Recognising when team handling or additional assistance may be required.
• Handling deliveries and stock 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 retail 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.