Manual Handling Training Frequency
A common question from employers booking manual handling training: how often does it have to be refreshed? Here is the Irish answer.
There is no fixed legal interval for manual handling refresher training in Ireland. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 require employers to provide training and keep it up to date. Best practice widely followed and recommended by training bodies is a refresher approximately every three years, or sooner if tasks, loads, equipment or the individual's role change.
What the regulation says
Under Chapter 4 of Part 2 of the General Application Regulations 2007, where hazardous manual handling cannot be avoided, employers must assess the risk and provide employees with training and information. The Regulations require training to be adequate and current they do not set a numeric interval, which is why it is risk-based.
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Regulation requirements
Employers must provide adequate and current manual handling training where hazardous manual handling cannot be avoided.
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Refresher training
Visual inspections by a trained 2007, weekly or monthly according to your risk assessment.
- 03
Change in circumstances
Refresh sooner if tasks, loads, equipment or the individual's role change.
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Risk assessment
Training should be based on workplace risks and kept up to date.
So when should you refresh?
Roughly every 3 years as a baseline (common industry best practice). Sooner if the tasks, loads, equipment or environment change. Sooner for new staff, or after an injury or near-miss involving handling. Book or arrange refresher training: see our Manual Handling Training course.
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