Equipment Guide

Manual Handling Equipment and Lifting Aids

Guide to equipment that reduces manual handling risks. Learn about trolleys, hoists, lifting aids, and mechanical assistance that protect workers from injury.

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Equipment Types

Common Manual Handling Equipment

These tools and aids reduce the need for manual lifting and lower injury risk.

Platform Trolleys

Flat platform on wheels for moving boxes, pallets, and multiple items at once.

Uses: Warehouse, retail, office

Sack Trucks

Two-wheeled L-shaped trolleys for moving heavy boxes and sacks on edge.

Uses: Deliveries, stock handling

Pallet Trucks

Manual or powered trucks for moving loaded pallets in warehouses.

Uses: Warehouse, logistics

Patient Hoists

Mechanical lifts for transferring patients safely in healthcare settings.

Uses: Healthcare, care homes

Scissor Lifts

Platforms that raise loads to working height, reducing bending.

Uses: Manufacturing, assembly

Vacuum Lifters

Suction-based lifters for smooth, flat loads like glass and sheet materials.

Uses: Construction, manufacturing

Conveyor Systems

Belt or roller systems that move goods without lifting.

Uses: Production lines, sorting

Lifting Straps

Straps that improve grip and distribute load when team lifting.

Uses: Moving large items

Slide Sheets

Low-friction sheets for repositioning patients without lifting.

Uses: Healthcare, care

Why Equipment Matters

Mechanical aids and handling equipment are the most effective way to reduce manual handling injuries. Where equipment can do the lifting, human bodies are protected.

Under Irish health and safety regulations, employers must avoid the need for hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable. Providing appropriate equipment is a key way to meet this duty.

The best lift is no lift at all. Always ask: is there equipment available that could do this task more safely?

Selecting the Right Equipment

When choosing handling equipment, consider:

  • Task requirements - What needs to be moved and where?
  • Load characteristics - Weight, size, shape, fragility
  • Environment - Space available, floor surfaces, obstacles
  • Frequency - How often the task is performed
  • User capability - Training needed, physical demands

Employee Responsibilities

Workers should:

  • Use equipment provided for manual handling tasks
  • Report equipment that is damaged or not working
  • Request equipment if tasks feel unsafe without it
  • Follow training on correct equipment use
  • Not bypass equipment to "save time"
FAQs

Equipment Questions

Yes. Our course covers the principles of using mechanical aids to reduce manual handling risk. Specific equipment training (like forklift or hoist operation) may require additional specialised courses.
You can raise concerns about tasks you feel are unsafe. If a load exceeds safe manual handling limits and equipment should be provided, discuss with your supervisor. Workers should not be forced to perform unsafe tasks.
Employers are responsible for providing appropriate equipment to reduce manual handling risks. Workers should request equipment if tasks cannot be done safely without it.

Learn More in Our Training Course

Our course covers equipment use as part of comprehensive Manual Handling Training.

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