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The Australian Association of Manutention Practitioners (AAMP) believe Manutention is the best form of skills training for the manual handling training component of your OSH program. This can be as a control strategy on its own, or as part of learning safe handling habits when used in conjunction with engineering or equipment controls. Manutention training has a strong practical basis with feedback from an accredited trainer, as recommended in many manual handling codes of practice.
Manutention training addresses many components of manual handling: push, pull, lift, lower, carry, hold and restrain and it teaches safe postures and movements for all of these tasks. It also encompasses risks and strategies related to sustained and awkward postures or repetitive actions.
Training in risk management processes, the hierarchy of control and relevant manual handling codes of practice are built into each training course. As you progress through each level, a higher degree of application of risk management skills, problem solving abilities and control strategy implementation is required. Within each accredited course, reference is made to the relevant state occupational health and safety legislation and regulations, the state code of practice, national code of practice for manual tasks, and sometimes you might be referred to the code of practice for another state, if it is seen as particularly relevant or useful.
There has been some concern that our courses teach lifting. Our accredited courses are developed for the full range of situations that a person may encounter. The courses progressively build up in terms of skill level, problem solving and complexity. For example, during an advanced course, the activity may be to move a person who has collapsed in the toilet, in a rural situation where no hoist is available. Many components of this task will have been taught and practised prior to undertaking the complete task. Participants will have been assessed for their ability to perform the physical components and given the option to participate or not.
Courses can be customised to address specific risks within your organisation, company or industry. Procedures that form part of your manual handling policy i.e. 2 staff required for any hoist transfer, or a 'no catch' policy for falling clients, can and will be included in the occupational safety discussion that forms part of any customised training.
You are always encouraged to think through the hierarchy of control: