Manual Handling and Ergonomics within the Dental Practice

Course Content

Section 2 (2, c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires
employers to provide Information Instruction, Training & Supervision.

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 regulation 4 states (1) Each employer shall— ii) take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injury to those employees arising out of their undertaking any such
manual handling operations to the lowest level reasonably practicable.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Act states that every employer must take suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to health and safety of their employees.

In the UK there are nearly 5 million days absenteeism lost each year due to back problems and on average 19 days off work for each absentee. 50% of injuries are to the back. 73% of injuries are a strain or sprain. The figures are frightening and could be potentially devastating and very expensive for a dental practice should they suffer.

Injuries do not necessarily come from carrying large heavy items but can be the result of not having enough back support or repeating the same movement incorrectly.

The DBG’s two hour course held at your practice will give you vital information on:

• The basic structure of the spine and the damage that can occur
• How to assess the risks, including ergonomic work related issues
• The hazards of poor manual handling
• The principles of safe manual handling
• The correct arrangement of a VDU

2 hours verifiable CPD.