TODAY on the roads, Safety in Action!
How Wokingham Council Is Reducing Manual Handling Risk with iTip Safety Handles
Driving through Wokingham recently, amid the ongoing road improvement works, something stood out—and it wasn’t just the usual cones, signage, or resurfacing crews.
It was how the teams were working.
These photos were taken in the middle of live A-road works, where operatives from Volker Highways—working in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council—were getting on with the job. Wheelbarrows moving material, hands-on, physical work as you’d expect. But look a little closer, and you’ll notice something different: iTip Safety Handles fitted to the equipment.
It’s a small change on the surface—but it represents a much bigger shift in mindset.
A Visible Shift in How We Think About Risk
Manual handling has always been part of highways work. It’s unavoidable. But what’s changing is how the industry is responding to the foreseeable risks that come with it.
We’re now in a place where:
- Simply “getting the job done” isn’t enough
- There’s increasing scrutiny on how risks are managed
- The bar for what counts as reasonably practicable is rising
And rightly so.
Seeing iTip Safety Handles in use on active roadworks is a clear sign that this evolution is happening—not in policy documents, but out on the road, where it matters most.
Why This Matters (More Than Ever)
MSDs and multi-skeletal injuries remain one of the biggest challenges across construction and highways. The kind of repetitive strain that comes from pushing, lifting, and manoeuvring heavy loads day after day adds up—and historically, it’s often been accepted as “part of the job.”
That thinking is changing.
With ergonomic interventions like iTip Safety Handles:
- Operatives gain better control of equipment
- Posture improves naturally, without forcing behaviour change
- Strain on wrists, shoulders, and back is reduced
- Tasks become more inclusive for a wider workforce
It’s not about slowing work down—it’s about making it sustainable.
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Real Work. Real Conditions. Real Change.
What’s particularly powerful about these images is that they’re not staged. This isn’t a demo or a trial in a controlled environment.
This is live highways work, on real roads, under real conditions.
And that’s where change counts.
Because when solutions like iTip Safety Handles are adopted in day-to-day operations, they stop being “innovations” and start becoming the new standard.
Industry Momentum Is Building
There’s a growing recognition across the sector that protecting people isn’t just a compliance exercise—it’s a responsibility.
And it’s encouraging to see that being embraced on the ground.
“It’s great to see the construction and motorway industry embracing safety and looking after their colleagues—'live' and in action on the roads of Wokingham.” Simon Allder founder of Safety Handles
The Direction of Travel
The direction is clear:
- Reduce foreseeable risk
- Implement practical, effective controls
- Align with HSE principles
- Move beyond minimum compliance
What was once considered “good practice” is quickly becoming expected practice.
And if a simple, proven solution exists that can reduce strain and improve safety—then the question is no longer why use it?
It’s why wouldn’t you?
Email: Hello@SafetyHandles.co.uk
Phone: 0333 800 5000
Website: www.SafetyHandles.co.uk