Manual Handling
A short, practical toolbox talk on manual handling, with a downloadable attendance record for your team.
Prepared by Morgan Compliance Group · Published 23 October 2026 · Updated 23 October 2026
Who it's for
Supervisors, team leaders and managers delivering practical workplace safety briefings.
Why it matters
Lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling cause many musculoskeletal injuries, especially back injuries, which can affect people for life.
Key points
- Avoid manual handling where a trolley, hoist or other aid can do the job.
- Assess the load first: weight, size, grip and whether it's stable.
- Plan the route and clear it before lifting.
- Get help or split the load if it's too heavy or awkward.
- Lift with a stable stance, keep the load close and avoid twisting.
- Report pain or discomfort early.
Questions to ask your team
- Which tasks here involve the heaviest or most awkward loads?
- What handling aids do we have, and are they used?
- Has anyone had aches or pains from a task we could change?
Related resource: if your team also uses vibrating powered tools, check daily hand-arm vibration exposure with our HAV calculator.
Use the downloadable talk and attendance record to document the briefing, including names, companies and signatures.
Free download
manual-handling-toolbox-talk-morgan-compliance-group.pdf
No sign-up needed.
This resource is general guidance. Adapt it to your own business, activities and risks.
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