Manual Handling
Training

Backsafe offers manual handling training programs tailored to the specific needs of your healthcare business and staff

We run programs onsite in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Geelong & Adelaide, or online Australia wide.

Our training covers a range of manual handling techniques and safety tips, including workplace reviews, getting to know your body, damage control, warm ups & stretching and safe lifting techniques.

Slide sheet

Onsite or Online Training

Staff Training

Peer to Peer Champion Training

In-house Train the Trainer

Manual Handling Resources

Manual Handling Training for Safer Workplaces

Backsafe offers customised manual handling training programs tailored to the specific needs of your business and staff.

Our training sessions, ideal for groups of up to 20 participants, last approximately 120 -150 minutes.

These courses are delivered using our ‘edutainment’ approach and underpinned by our key Backsafe learning concepts guaranteeing a high level of engagement and effectiveness.

These programs are key to reducing musculoskeletal injuries and fostering safer workplace environments through improved manual handling techniques.

patient moving equipment

Workplace Manual Handling Review

A brief walk-through review of the workplace to assess the variety and intensity of manual handling tasks and the patient transfer and/or materials handling equipment used on site so as to tailor the training for each client.

Manual Handling Legislative Obligations

An introduction to what manual handling is - covering all of the aspects of legal definitions and compliance obligations.

How an injury occurs

How the body works and how an injury occurs with one bad lift, one bad bend or one bad patient transfer at a time. How the spinal column should not be used as a lever when lifting. How the various joints of the body should be used correctly so as to avoid an accumulative trauma injury.

How to take responsibility for your whole-body health

How nerve damage occurs and its impact on the body and its functions. How pain is not always an indicator of existing damage. If damage exists how not to make it worse. The Tank of Health and how to maximise whole body health.

Warmups & Stretching

Pre-work and after breaks warm-ups and stretches explained and performed by all.

Lifting Techniques

Lifting techniques selected for frequently used items on the job. Practical drilling of lifting and other manual handling utilising all possible techniques.

Patient Transfers

12 common patient transfers covering on bed, off bed and walking. Practical drilling of these transfers using various equipment such as slings, hoists, wheelchairs and any other equipment on hand and used by the client.

Manual Handling Train the Trainer

Backsafe Train the Trainer is an advanced training program conducted over two consecutive days. It qualifies and licences the participant to deliver the Backsafe Manual Handling Training Program within your organisation.  It is designed for experienced in-house trainers who have the goal to eliminate the risk of work habits causing MSDs in your business. We recommend that the attendees have a Certificate 4 in Workplace Training and Assessment TAE or above.

If the trainer does not have a “formal training qualification” we can conduct an intensive  make-up training designed to help these staff understand and improve their capacity to train others. It works a treat!

train the trainer group photo

A Backsafe 1 Manual Handling Training session in full with lots of variations.

Anatomy of a musculo-skeletal injury

Our dramatic delivery of this section of the program not only personally engages the participants but equips them to equally inform and engage their own trainees when they deliver this section of the program.

Warm-up and Stretching

This section demonstrates correct warm-up and stretching techniques and drills participants in how to safely and effectively instruct their future trainees in these activities. This is a key element of the Backsafe manual handling program and contributes to the overall reduction of soft tissue injuries.

Lifting Techniques

This section demonstrates a number of generic and tailored work specific lifting techniques and drills participants in how to safely and effectively instruct their own trainees in their proper use.

Risk Assessment

Being able to identify manual handling hazards is crucial in ensuring tasks are carried out safely. We go through the identification, assessment and control of manual handling risks using our tailored manual handling hierarchy of controls and associated risk identification tools.

Ready-made powerpoint presentations to use as induction training tools

This section covers seven different 10-15 minute presentations relating to the key Backsafe messages around injury prevention. Each participant is drilled in their content and shown how they can be modified to job specific tasks and/or workplaces. Participants are randomly asked to give an impromptu presentation on one or more of these Backsafe topics. We also share a manual handling induction training tool to assist with new hire protection.

Resources

All participants receive a training kit that includes 20 x Backsafe manual handling workbooks, 20 x Backsafe Patient Handling workbooks, 20 x Backsafe Stretch cards and 18 x Backsafe Posters.

Onsite or Online Training

Onsite training gives our trainers the opportunity to carry out a brief walk-through review of the workplace to assess the variety and intensity of manual handling and mechanical materials handling used on site so as to tailor the training for each client.

Online training gives you the opportunity to involve staff spread around different locations or to join a public session.

Manual Handling in the Healthcare Industry

Manual handling is an important part of patient care in the healthcare environment. It involves any activity that requires the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any object or person. 

 

Backsafe’s training helps Healthcare, NDIS, Disability Care & Aged Care workers reduce the incidence and the severity of musculoskeletal injuries resulting from manual handling hazards when lifting and moving materials, equipment and transferring people.  

We know that to achieve lasting change that along with teaching specific lifting techniques and specific body movements, that we also need to instil a deep understanding of how the body works and how an injury occurs so that participants can take this knowledge and apply it to any workplace setting and any work task. 

Backsafe's Integrated Approach to Reducing MSDs in the Workplace

Backsafe have developed our proprietary white paper on an integrated approach to reducing musculoskeletal disorders in the healthcare industry.

To find out more click the following link to download our FREE white paper: Download Backsafe white paper

Backsafe Whitepaper

Manual Handling Testimonials

5/5
Have found the training to be amazing. I have learnt so much and look forward to passing the information on to the community to assist in improving their health and wellbeing and their families. Peter made the training fun and informative.
Helen McPherson
Endorsed Enrolled Nurse / OT Assistance
5/5
Best manual handling course I have been to for years Very informative and fun. Refreshed existing knowledge but also learnt new things too. Highly recommended!
Janine Tarplett
Manager Day Surgery
5/5
I completed the 4 day Backsafe train the trainer course last week with Peter and Jane online. Best investment I have made in a long time. Peter's knowledge and training style was perfect - and Jane made the whole process run really smoothly. I wish someone had taught me what Peter taught us about manual handling 30 years ago - knowing the why really makes a huge difference and I am very excited to teach others what I have learnt and hopefully make a difference in the way people look at manual handling in the workplace.
Karen Burgess
Thehelp2group
5/5
The Backsafe manual handling and patient moving training is outstanding, very engaging and tailored to your needs. Peter and Jane are wonderful trainers, full of knowledge and personality and get you involved. I have used Backsafe training previously as a safety manager in a large not for profit organisation, feedback and results were amazing. So much so I now completed the ‘Train the Trainer’ course so I can deliver this as I really believe in it that much. Great training, great people and great results!
Darren Stevenson
My SAFETY Partner
5/5
This was by far the best training I have received about Manual Handling. The vast amount resources given is fantastic and the detailed training and coaching I cannot fault at all. I feel much more confident and understand the concepts to provide meaningful training to our valued employees. Thank you so much Jane and Peter!
Dennis Tisdell
Solid Holistic Care
5/5
I just wanted to provide some feedback regarding the Backsafe manual handling training we had earlier today. Peter was incredible! Extremely informative, engaging, and entertaining! The feedback from my team ahs been exceptional - thank you!
Amy Schneider
MND Victoria

Contact Us

Please contact us for further information on our training, consulting and/or digital services or to receive a proposal specific to your organisational needs.

We travel anywhere in Australia and/or the Pacific region and will fit in with any workplace schedule (day or night) to deliver our training programs.

The Backsafe Team is a highly skilled and committed group of safety professionals and we look forward to helping you achieve your safety goals.

Send us your query & we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. Please note we do not train individual students.

Fill in this form and our team will contact you shortly!