Manual lifting training a 'legal requirement'
Commercial insurance
4th December 2008
A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive has reminded employers that they are legally required to provide their workers with manual handling training.
The provision of such training was included in the Health and Safety at Work Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Asked if businesses are doing enough to provide sufficient training and information, the spokesperson said that companies are broadly compliant "on the whole", but added that existing regulations are not specific about the type of training that should be given.
"Workers should be given training in how to use any lifting equipment provided and in doing any manual handling task that a risk assessment indicated carried with it a risk of injury," the spokesperson said.
Providing proper training for jobs that require manual lifting could prevent injuries and also help firms avoid costly employers' liability insurance claims.
