Module 1
Understanding Manual Handling
What manual handling actually covers in a warehouse — not just lifting.
6 minute read
Manual handling is any activity where you use your body to move or hold something. In a warehouse that includes lifting cartons, pushing cages, dragging pallets, holding a scanner overhead, or standing in one spot for a long shift.
- Lifting and lowering cartons, totes and satchels
- Pushing and pulling trolleys, cages and pallet jacks
- Carrying stock between racking and packing benches
- Holding, restraining or supporting a load
- Repetitive reaching, twisting and bending during picking
Not just heavy items
Light loads handled hundreds of times per shift can cause more harm than one heavy lift. Frequency and posture matter as much as weight.
Knowledge check
Which of these is manual handling?