Manual Handling Equipment Training is Essential for Safety

Manual handling equipment such as pallet trucks, scissor lifts or scissor tables are incredibly useful tools that enable people to carry out tasks effectively and efficiently. They have most commonly been used in industrial settings such as warehouses or storage facilities however some items are also becoming popular lifting solutions in other industries such as the entertainment field where items such as scissor lifts are used on film sets or for stage set-ups for live performances. Whatever the use, materials handling equipment, although useful to many in a range of industries, must be respected as the substantial machinery it is and used cautiously and professionally by all.

Scissor lifts are particularly popular to use during filming or photography as they allow individuals to get a much better perspective by being elevated so the shots can be designed and controlled to achieve a particular outcome. Scissor lifts are portable, hydraulic powered lifts that can raise a load as much as 50ft off the ground. Unfortunately, there are several hazards associated with the use of such manual handling equipment and, when people aren’t trained properly and are inexperienced in using these lifting solutions, accidents can occur.

If you use materials handling equipment and lifting solutions on a regular basis make sure that you have the proper training processes in place to avoid accidents in the work place. You can minimise risks and hazards by establishing safe work practices including inspecting the lift before use, stabilising the lift, selecting safe work locations and identifying work conditions that should prevent use such as strong winds and bad weather. You can carry out additional checks too such as checking the surface is firm and level and that there are no hazards or obstructions above the lift that might pose a risk when the lift is in operation and raised such as tree branches or electrical power cables.

Some manual handling equipment companies, such as Advanced Handling, offer post sales training for you and your staff to ensure that everyone is fully trained in the operation of your manual handling equipment. Investing in this kind of training means you can be sure to minimise accidents caused by operator error and avoid such tragic incidents as the one described here.

If you require lifting solutions training or would like to find out more information about Advanced Handling, and the products and services they are able to offer please visit http://www.advancedhandling.co.uk.