Employers must protect anyone doing hazardous manual handling (lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving loads). Training is part of that duty when risks remain after you’ve avoided and reduced them.

HSE lists the core elements your training should include (tailored to your tasks and with practical, observed practice): Risk factors & how injuries happen, Using mechanical aids, Safe manual-handling / good handling technique, Your systems of work and environment, Hands-on practice with feedback.

No legal expiry for manual handling training/certificates is set by HSE. Instead, employers should refresh training at suitable intervals to keep people competent. Trigger refreshers when work/equipment/processes change, risks increase, or monitoring shows poor practice. Keep records to help decide when refreshers are needed. HSE also notes that generic “lifting technique” courses by themselves are ineffective—focus refreshers on your real tasks and controls.