Council Services Manual Handling Training

New Forest District Council Case Study

3 Day Manual Handling Instructor & Risk Assessor Course

Team Handling Commercial Bins

Jon Simmonds with the Group

Optimal Lifting Technique tutelage

Team Handling Commercial Bins

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In 2026 our Senior Instructor Jon Simmonds travelled to the New Forest to deliver our 3 Day Manual Handling Instructor and Risk Assessor Course. This was the 5th Course the Council had booked with us, as recognition of the quality our Expert Instructor Team deliver. The Course content has been written by Gareth Milner, who managed the pre-Course finalising with Antonin Panac at the New Forest District Council.

Set at an 'affordable for all UK Councils' cost of only £2395, qualifying up to 8 attendees, our 3 Day Bespoke Programme took place at the New Forest's Hardley Depot in Hythe.

CLICK TO READ COURSE OUTLINE

Osteopathic Solutions UK & Ireland Ltd is a results business. We provide engaging, professionally run, and biomechanically correct Programmes with the aim of course, to support your compliance, with the ultimate aim to drive down your Council´s Manual Handling Lost Time Accidents, drive down Musculoskeletal Disorder Injury at Work Claims .. Target-Zero ... zero lost time ... zero £s paid out.

As you will see from the Course Outline (GREEN tab above), the right level of Classroom theory kicks off Day 1. Using real life videos of hazardous practices captured during our national Council provision* our Senior Instructor Jon Simmonds imparted on the attendees the importance of the Course and their soon-to-be role of teaching the Workforce how to prevent injury at work. Whether theory or practical, our Team teach what can be a technical subject, in a simple way, pitching at a learning pace that aids understanding and information uptake.

To support the Attendees after the Course, our comprehensive Booklet and 30-minute Council Services Manual Handling Training Video are included in the competitive cost, for their indefinite referral and subject refresher.

*Over 100 Councils, County, District, Borough and City have benefited from our Expertise since 2010 when Gareth Milner founded Osteopathic Solutions.

Engaged Attendees

Optimal Carrying Practices

Real World Squat Lifting

Engaged Attendees

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Day 1 afternoon was all practical across the depot. Jon Simmonds demonstrated Optimal Lifting, Carrying and Lowering techniques and practises followed by the Attendees starting their practical journey to champion Manual Handling at the New Forest Council.

Take a look at the gallery to the left, observing the foot position, the amount of hip and knee bending, and the spinal position in what is Optimal Lifting technique underpinned by the expertise our Instructors (being Occupational Osteopaths) have. Although led by our Instructor, we encourage all attendees to take an active and vocal part in the Course practical, shaping them as strong, respected and vocal Manual Handling Instructors.

Day 2 kicked off with the Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC Tool) with attendees pairing up using the Lifting and Carrying Videos Jon Simmonds presented. The majority of the day focused on the many combinations of pushing and pulling practices Council Operatives perform daily with Commercial and Wheelie Bins, including individual tasks and team handling.

After the Risk Assessment of Pushing and Pulling (RAPP Tool) Day 2 afternoon focused on Team Pushing and Pulling as well as Team Lifting, Carrying and Lowering with Jon Simmonds ensuring that all attendees both understood, and demonstrated clear communication when being the Team Leader, ensuring a coordinated and Optimal Lift.

Day 3 in the morning completed their Manual Handling Risk Assessment training; then time for a final practical session where they could ask Jon Simmonds any questions they had before the Practical and Written Assessments. Structuring in-house Workforce Training Programmes was a key part of the afternoon, aiding the required target-zero employee absence from musculoskeletal disorders. Below are the 2-hour Courses (ORANGE tabs) the newly qualified Instructors would be delivering.

Another successful Course was completed for New Forest District Council with all Attendees passing and receiving their Certificate of Training. From the Group .. attendees received our Distinction Grade reflecting their engagement over the 3 Days and the simplicity with which Osteopathic Solutions teach this important Health & Safety subject.