Manual handling training in Ireland: what the law requires

What the law says

Regulation 68 defines which manual handling activities are covered: transporting or supporting a load where its characteristics or unfavourable ergonomic conditions create a risk, particularly of back injury. Regulation 69 sets the employer's duties: avoid manual handling where possible, assess the remaining tasks using the risk factors in Schedule 3, take measures to reduce the risk, and give employees information and training.

The Schedule 3 risk factors

Schedule 3 groups the risk factors into the characteristics of the load (for example too heavy or too large, unwieldy or difficult to grasp, unstable, or held away from the trunk), the physical effort required, the working environment, the requirements of the activity and individual risk factors. Schedule 3 also states that an employee may be at risk if he or she does not have adequate or appropriate knowledge or training.

What this means for training

The HSA guide is clear that manual handling training needs to be specific to the tasks involved and that providing training on its own does not meet Regulation 69: the risk assessment and control measures come first. The HSA also states that it does not endorse or approve individual training programmes or providers.