Moving and Handling of Inanimate Objects – All Industries in the UK and Wales
Effective manual handling training reduces injuries, improves safety, and supports legal compliance.
The Moving and Handling of Inanimate Objects course is a legally required workplace training programme designed for employees across all industries who are involved in lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or moving loads as part of their role. Poor manual handling is one of the leading causes of workplace injuries in the UK, particularly musculoskeletal disorders affecting the back, shoulders, and joints.
This training supports employers and employees in meeting their legal responsibilities under UK health and safety legislation, including the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR) 1992. The course provides learners with the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to reduce the risk of injury, improve workplace safety, and promote safer working practices.
Our training is suitable for all sectors, including construction, manufacturing, logistics, retail, warehousing, offices, hospitality, education, and care environments, and is delivered using a practical, real-world approach that reflects everyday workplace tasks.
Course Content
Duration: 3.5 hours
Certification: within 24 hours of completing the course
Delivery: Bespoke on-site workplace training or group training
The course is for:
Employees
Managers
H&S Consultants
1. Introduction
- Definition of manual handling
- Common injuries and their causes
- Employer and employee responsibilities under the law
- Statistics and consequences of poor manual handling
- Understand the consequences of poor
- manual handling practice
- State the actions to be taken in the event of a manual handling manoeuvre being required within their working environment
- Identify the correct manoeuvre for use on arrange of different manual handling situations.
2. Legislation
- Overview of key regulations:
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR) 1992
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
3. Anatomy and Physiology
- Basic structure of the spine
- How manual handling injuries occur, including strains, sprains, and disc damage
- The importance of good posture and core strength
4. Risk Assessment
- The TILE model:
- Task – what needs to be done
- Individual – personal capability and limitations
- Load – size, shape, weight, and stability
- Environment – space, flooring, lighting, and conditions
- Identifying, eliminating, and controlling risks
5. Safe Handling Techniques
- Assess the load before moving
- Check the weight, size, shape and stability of the object. If it is too heavy, awkward or unstable, seek help or use handling equipment.
- Plan the route
- Make sure the path is clear of obstacles, spills, uneven flooring or trip hazards before you start moving the object.
- Use correct lifting posture
- Keep your back straight, bend at the knees and hips, keep the load close to your body, and avoid twisting while lifting or carrying.
- Use mechanical aids where possible
- Use trolleys, hoists, pallet trucks or other handling aids to reduce physical strain and the risk of injury.
- Work within your limits
- Never attempt to lift or move more than you can safely manage. Team lifting or alternative methods should be used when required.
6. Use of Handling Aids
- Trolleys and carts – Used to move heavy or bulky items over longer distances without lifting.
- Dollies – Small wheeled platforms ideal for transporting boxes, furniture or equipment.
- Pallet trucks – Used for moving palletised loads safely and efficiently.
- Hoists and lifting devices – Provide mechanical assistance for lifting heavy or awkward objects.
- Conveyor systems – Reduce manual handling by moving items automatically between locations.
- Slide sheets and rollers – Help move objects smoothly across surfaces with minimal effort.
- Sack trucks – Designed for moving stacked or tall items such as boxes, cylinders or appliances safely.
7. Practical Session
- Demonstration and supervised practice of safe manual handling techniques
- Real-life scenarios based on participants’ workplaces
- Identifying unsafe practices and applying corrective measures
8. Review and Assessment
- Knowledge check through quiz or group discussion
- Observation of practical technique
- Feedback, reflection, and best practice discussion
Frequently Asked Questions
What is moving and handling of inanimate objects?
Moving and handling of inanimate objects refers to the safe lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying and positioning of non-living items such as equipment, furniture, stock, waste, or loads in the workplace.
It is a key part of manual handling safety and helps reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, accidents and workplace ill-health.
Why is training in moving and handling of inanimate objects important?
Training is essential because poor manual handling is one of the leading causes of workplace injuries, including back pain, strains and long-term musculoskeletal disorders.
Proper training teaches staff how to assess risk, use correct lifting techniques, and apply control measures, helping organisations meet their health and safety legal duties while protecting employees
Who needs moving and handling of inanimate objects training?
Anyone who lifts, moves, pushes or carries objects as part of their job should receive training. This includes workers in health and social care, warehouses, offices, schools, cleaning, facilities management, retail and manufacturing.
Even light or occasional handling can cause injury if done incorrectly.
How does this training reduce injuries and accidents?
Moving and handling training teaches staff how to:
- Assess the load before moving it
- Use safe lifting and handling techniques
- Avoid twisting, over-reaching and awkward postures
- Use handling aids and equipment correctly
This significantly lowers the risk of back injuries, slips, trips and manual handling accidents, creating a safer and more compliant workplace.
Book Moving and Handling Training
Ensure your workforce is trained, compliant, and protected from preventable injuries. If you are looking for legally compliant moving and handling training for inanimate objects, Salus Training can deliver practical, engaging training tailored to your workplace.
📞 Contact us today to book your Moving and Handling of Inanimate Objects course or to discuss your training requirements.