Train employees to lift and carry

Training your employees to lift and carry correctly forms an important part of reducing manual handling risksEnsure employees' safety when lifting and carrying handling activities may be potentially harmful and how to use mechanical lifting equipment if appropriate.

Avoid manual handlingYou should look at ways of avoiding manual handling, providing mechanical aids and improving working conditions before you consider training. Work out who might be harmed, and how. Consider which staff might be particularly vulnerable


Train staffYou should also train staff to recognise which handling activities may be potentially harmful and how to use mechanical lifting equipment if appropriate. Record your findings. If you employ five or more people, you must write down your findings and inform staff of them. Review your assessment and revise it if necessary.



You must make them aware of their health and safety responsibilities in this area, both to themselves and others.For advice on how you can lift loads safely, see the page in this guide on tips for good lifting technique.You can send staff on training courses to develop good handling techniques - but these can be expensive.