Manual handling training is not required in the Northern Territory. However, it provides businesses with an additional method for complying with work health and safety (WHS) regulations.
According to the WHS Act, a PCBU has a duty of care. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide a reasonably safe work environment. Manual handling courses cover the skills and knowledge for safely handling heavy loads, reducing the risk of accidents or injury.
What Does Manual Handling Training Involve?
Performing repetitive actions or carrying heavy loads puts the health and safety of workers at risk. The training is designed to teach workers how to safely complete these tasks. It involves both practical training and theory.
You learn more about the risks of using improper manual handling techniques, such as an increased risk of strains and sprains. The course also includes basic anatomy and explains the biomechanics of how the body moves when performing manual tasks.
A manual task is any activity that requires you to use force. For example, if you need to lower, lift, pull, push, hold, or restrain an object, you are completing a manual task. This may be as simple as moving a box of computer paper.
Some tasks involve greater risks. In a warehouse setting or on a construction site, workers may need to move heavy or awkward loads. These environments also often involve the use of equipment that may require repetitive activity.
These courses teach the proper techniques for safely handling heavy loads or performing repetitive actions. However, the methods discussed depend on the course. AlertForce offers training for various environments, including:
- Healthcare
- Office
- Warehouse
- Construction
While some of these environments bring an increased risk of injury, even a healthcare worker or office worker benefits from safe handling techniques. A manual task is typically defined as a task that includes:
- Repeated force
- Sustained force
- Awkward positioning
- Repetitive motion
- Vibrations
- Unbalanced loads
The handling of animals and people also requires specific manual handling techniques. Without the right lifting or pulling methods, you increase the risk of back injuries, strains, and sprains. These injuries cost the economy of Australia over $28 billion a year.
What Are the Learning Outcomes?
The learning outcomes details related to basic human anatomy and the potential risks of manual tasks. You learn proper posture and lifting techniques along with the steps needed to assess the hazards of the task.
Some of the solutions discussed in the course include changing the task, the object, or the workspace. Changing environmental conditions may also decrease hazards.
Those that perform various handling tasks may face a high risk of sprains or strains. No matter which course you take, you learn how to assess the potential risks of handling a heavy or awkward load. The standard assessment process requires you to analyse the following:
- The details of the task
- The condition of the worker
- The type of load
- The work environment
You first need to consider the type of task and the movement that it involves. For example, you need to use different techniques for working in a fixed position compared to lifting or pulling an object.
You also need to consider the layout of the work area, the weight of the object, and the location. Other details include the duration and frequency of the task. After reviewing these details, you can implement the proper technique as outlined in the training course.
As mentioned, the specific learning outcomes vary depending on the environment. Workers on a construction site perform different tasks compared to healthcare workers or office workers.
Does a Manual Handling Certificate Have an Expiration Date?
The program does not have an expiration date. However, retaking the course every two to three years helps reinforce the topics covered.
After completing the course, you may print a certificate for proof of completion. It is not a statement of attainment or a licence as the manual handling courses are not required under the WHS Act.
While the course is not always required, your elected health and safety representative may recommend the training to help create a safer work environment.
How Long Is Manual Handling Training in Darwin?
The duration of the course depends on the registered training organisation (RTO). Some RTOs offer the course in person while others offer it online.
With the online courses offered through AlertForce, you can work at your own pace. The courses are designed to be completed in 45 to 60 minutes. However, you also need to complete quizzes, which may take a few extra minutes.
The courses for construction workers, office workers, and warehouse workers last 45 minutes while the course for healthcare workers lasts 60 minutes.
How Much Are Manual Handling Training Courses Darwin?
The manual handling courses from AlertForce are affordable, costing just $60 plus GST. The courses are offered online and meet the duty of care requirements for the WHS / OHS Act and State Workcover/Worksafe/Workcover Authority Audits.
