Manual Handling
Training

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

This training covers workplace reviews, getting to know your body, damage control, warm ups & stretching, safe lifting techniques and other manual handling techniques. 

Manual Handling Training is essential for any business that operates or involves the lifting and moving of heavy equipment.

In 2024, we will be running online public courses for individual staff in the NDIS, Healthcare, Aged Care & Disability Care Sectors – Learn more here

 

Play Video about Backsafe Demonstrations

Staff Training

Peer to Peer Champion Training

In-house Train the Trainer

Onsite or Online Training

Manual Handling Resources

Staff Training & What we cover

Backsafe is a manual handling training program tailored to the specific needs of your business and staff. These training sessions are ideally conducted in groups of up to 20 people at a time and take between 100 -120 minutes to complete. They are delivered with our edutainment approach and underpinned by our key Backsafe learning concepts guaranteeing a high level of engagement.

Phil 05

Workplace Review

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.

Introduction

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

Get to know your body

How the body works and how the spinal column should not be used as a lever when lifting. How the various joints of the body should be used correctly. Explanation of how a musculoskeletal disorder occurs unknowingly as acumulative trauma injury.

Damage Control

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.

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.

Peer to Peer Champions Training

Backsafe Manual Handling Champions is a 4 hour training program and gives participants an overview of the key Backsafe messages and associated manual handling applications. It is not an attempt to have these staff members become trainers – they are more identification specialists with skills to go directly to compliance or controls when they see poor manual handling skills performed by your workforce.

Graduating Manual Handling Champions work with management to build a safe working culture around the physical manual handling on site. We raise the communication skills of graduates to work with their colleagues to engage them in safe manual handling practices rather than only focusing on their education delivery skills.

What we cover

Anatomy of a musculoskeletal Injury

Warm-up and stretching program

Lifting techniques and the 7 Backsafe Don’ts

Backsafe Safety Zone and the 12 Basic Body Movements

How to be an effective Manual Handling Champion

How to create a safe workplaces and safe work practices

Peer to peer coaching through role plays and drills

Normark Feb 2020 05 Champs

In-house 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!

CHEP Safety Champions 2017

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.

Toolbox Talks and tailored induction training tools

This section covers eight different 10-15 minute presentations relating to 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 Toolbox Talks. 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 56 page Backsafe workbooks, 20 x Backsafe Stretch cards and 18 x Backsafe Posters.

Onsite or Online

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 Resources

We have developed a range of manual handling resources to help keep the Backsafe messages ever present within an organisation. This includes workbooks, stretch cards, posters, presentations, banners as well as tailored tools to suit specific client needs.

Manual Handling Testimonials

5/5
"Your training program was succinct and presented the most critical information in a clear and concise manner. I have completed several university degrees and attended many in house training programs throughout my career as a teacher and health facilitator. This training presented by BACKSAFE however, was by far, one of the most enjoyable, interactive and informative training programs I have ever attended..."
Ms Mel Johnston
Teacher
5/5
Thank you so much for your enlightening and entertaining training today . Everyone found it very informative and although in the past we’ve all been guilty of bad lifting decisions it seems we are now more aware of safe lifting techniques.
Lola Robertson
Operations & Wholesale Manager
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