Is a Manual Handling Course a Legal Requirement in Ireland?
If your employees perform any kind of physical lifting, you’re probably wondering:
“Is a manual handling course — or training — actually a legal requirement in Ireland?”
The short answer is yes.
Understanding why, and knowing your responsibilities as an employer, can protect your team from injuries and your business from legal or financial risks.
The Legal Obligation Explained
A manual handling course (also referred to as manual handling training) is required under the:
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 — Section 68 and Schedule 3.
The law states:
“An employer shall take appropriate organisational measures or use the appropriate means… to reduce the need for manual handling of loads by workers.”
Where risk remains, employers must ensure that workers receive training in safe manual handling techniques.
HSA Code of Practice
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has an official Code of Practice on Manual Handling.
It outlines:
• How to assess manual handling risks
• The minimum practical training standards
• The employer’s duty to monitor and review training
Referencing this Code of Practice can help demonstrate due diligence during HSA inspections.
Who Is Responsible?
Employers must:
• Identify manual handling risks
• Eliminate or reduce those risks
• Provide certified manual handling courses for all affected staff
Employees must:
• Follow safe practices learned during training
• Attend training or refresher courses when offered
If you don’t comply, you risk:
• Staff injuries and long-term health problems
• HSA inspections and possible enforcement
• Fines, legal claims, or reputational damage
Which Workplaces Need a Manual Handling Course?
Any workplace where staff may be injured while lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling loads should have a manual handling training programme in place.
This includes:
• Construction and trades
• Retail and warehousing
• Hotels and catering
• Healthcare and nursing homes
• Cleaning services
• Offices and administrative roles
Even if manual handling isn’t your main job, the legal requirement still applies.
Get Compliant with Certified Training
GTSS delivers HSA-compliant manual handling courses across Ireland.
Our training is:
• Fully certified and meets Irish legal requirements
• Delivered by experienced, qualified instructors
• Available as public courses in Dublin or on-site at your business
• Suitable for individuals or groups in all industries
We help employers meet their legal obligations while keeping staff safe, confident, and productive.
FAQs About Manual Handling Law in Ireland
How long is a manual handling course valid for?
There’s no fixed expiry in law, but every 3 years is best practice — or sooner if job tasks change.
Do I need to keep training records?
Yes. Records must be kept and available for HSA inspection.
Can GTSS run a manual handling course at our workplace?
Yes — we offer on-site and group training anywhere in Ireland.
