The impact of poor manual handling practices extends far beyond immediate workforce injuries. From lost productivity and increased absenteeism to higher insurance premiums and potential legal liabilities, the hidden costs of poor manual handling can be staggering.

As businesses strive to maintain a healthy and productive workforce, the need for effective training solutions has never been more critical.

The true cost of poor manual handling

Manual handling injuries are among the most common workplace injuries, accounting for a significant portion of workplace compensation claims. These injuries often result in extended periods of absence, leading to decreased productivity and additional costs in hiring temporary staff or covering overtime for existing employees.

Moreover, the cumulative effect of repetitive strain injuries can lead to chronic conditions, further escalating healthcare costs and reducing the overall efficiency of your workforce.

In Australia, workplace injuries have been a significant problem. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, during the financial year 2021-2022, there were 497,300 people with a work-related injury or illness. The most common cause of injury or illness was 'Lifting, pushing, pulling or bending' (24%). Among these people, 66% had time off as a result of the injury or illness.

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) New Zealand also reported 195,437 work-related injury claims in 2023 and the cost of active claims reached $1 Billion. Among these claims, ACC receives over 50,000 work-related claims for lifting, carrying and strain injuries each year.

Beyond the immediate financial implications, poor manual handling practices can harm an organisation's reputation. Frequent injuries can lead to low employee morale and higher turnover rates, making it difficult to attract and retain top talent. While manual handling training is no longer a legal requirement, failing to ensure safe working conditions can still result in costly litigation, reputational damage, and higher compensation claims.

Why VR is the next step in effective manual handling training?

Traditional manual handling training methods, such as classroom sessions and instructional videos, often struggle to provide the necessary foundational knowledge or effective instruction. While they can introduce basic concepts, these methods are often limited in scalability, lack reinforcement, and don't offer enough hands-on practice, making it difficult to fully prepare employees for real-world scenarios.

With VR training, employees can practice manual handling techniques in a controlled, risk-free setting. This scalable and cost-efficient solution allows companies to reach large numbers of employees asynchronously, ensuring consistent training quality across locations.

Reinforcement is also easier with VR, as sessions can be quickly done in the flow of work and there’s no need to take time away from work to train.

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Make the “First Move” towards a safer, more efficient workplace

By leveraging cutting-edge VR technology in partnership with Provention, we are enabling organisations to deliver immersive, hands-on training that resonates with employees, achieve sustainable behavioural change, and ultimately reduce injury rates.

This is about more than compliance—it's about empowering your people to work safely and effectively, driving performance and productivity across the board. Additionally, a well-trained workforce is more productive and motivated, leading to improved overall performance and a stronger bottom line.

The hidden costs of poor manual handling practices can be a significant burden on any business. However, with the right training solution in place, these risks can be effectively managed.  

Learn more about our VR Manual Handling Programme designed in partnership with Provention.