Preventing and Managing Discomfort, Pain and Injury

This course builds learners’ understanding of the causes and symptoms of Discomfort, Pain, and Injury (DPI) and the risk factors involved with manual handling. Learners gain knowledge of methods to prevent and manage symptoms and minimise risks.

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Duration: 1 day
Topic: Foundation
Next session: 23 Jun 2026 · 3 dates

At a glance

Course details

Duration: 1 day
Unit Standard:

Unit #	Name	Level	Credits
17591	Demonstrate knowledge of the prevention and management of Discomfort, Pain and Injury (DPI) in the workplace	3	8
17592	Identify the causes of back injury and methods to prevent back injuries in the workplace	3	4

This course builds understanding of the causes and symptoms of Discomfort, Pain and Injury (DPI) and the risk factors involved with manual handling. Learners gain knowledge of methods to prevent and manage the development of symptoms and how to minimise risk.

Overview

Preventing and Managing Discomfort, Pain and Injury course overview

Telling someone to “just bend their knees” doesn’t address the root causes of workplace injuries. When discomfort, pain and injury are reduced to a manual handling lifting issue, the impact of repetitive tasks, sustained postures, and other contributing factors can be overlooked. This one-day Preventing and Managing Discomfort, Pain and Injury (DPI) course builds understanding of how DPI develops and how it can be prevented and managed in the workplace.

We skip the outdated advice and one-size-fits-all messaging. Instead, our experienced trainers guide learners through how the body works in relation to work tasks, supported by activities and practical scenarios. Participants develop an understanding of spinal function, risk factors for injury, and how design, environment, and work organisation influence the development of DPI. They also build the skills to identify task-level risks and apply simple, effective strategies to reduce strain and support early intervention.

IMPAC’s focus is on building capable, body-aware workers who understand how to prevent and manage discomfort, pain, and injury in a practical way, helping to reduce harm in the workplace. Participants leave with a clear understanding of how DPI develops and the skills to support prevention, early reporting, and recovery, along with access to an IMPAC pocket guide for ongoing reference.

Curriculum

What you'll cover

This course is designed for:

Workers involved in manual handling tasks, especially where lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, repetitive work, or awkward postures are part of the job.
Supervisors and team leaders responsible for monitoring how manual tasks are planned and carried out.
Managers and health and safety personnel who need to reduce DPI risk and improve early reporting and response.
Teams working in environments where sustained postures, forceful work, or poorly designed tasks can lead to back injury or other DPI issues.

Our approach

+IMPAC's Preventing and Managing Discomfort, Pain and Injury training approach

Our trainers keep this training practical and grounded in what people actually do at work. Learners work through clear explanations of spinal function, DPI risk factors, and how work design, environment, and habits all influence strain and injury risk.

Rather than relying on outdated lifting-only messages, the course uses discussion, trainer-led examples, and realistic workplace scenarios to show where problems typically start and what good practice looks like. Learners leave with practical ways to spot risk earlier, speak up sooner, and apply sensible controls that support safer work and recovery.

Upcoming sessions

Public courses – Book now

23 - 24 Jun 2026

2 days, 9:00 pm – 4:00 am

Online via Zoom (with IMPAC Trainer)

$395.00 excl. GST

1 - 2 Sept 2026

2 days, 9:00 pm – 4:00 am

Online via Zoom (with IMPAC Trainer)

$395.00 excl. GST

20 - 21 Dec 2026

2 days, 8:00 pm – 3:00 am

Online via Zoom (with IMPAC Trainer)

$395.00 excl. GST

Want to discuss running this course at your organisation?

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Further study options

If you’re continuing your learning journey in health and safety, this course can contribute towards IMPAC’s Certificate in Applied Workplace Health and Safety Practices (Level 3), which leads to the New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Health and Safety Practice (Level 3).

This course is a elective module within the programme, allowing you to build on your existing training while working towards a recognised qualification over time. To learn more, click here, or to enrol, click here.

This programme is approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority under section 439 of the Education and Training Act 2020, and Impac Services Limited is accredited to provide it under section 441 of the Education and Training Act.

What's next

Next steps

To get started, you can book now.

To explore more courses in this area, see the Foundation category.

This course also sits well alongside Injury Management, Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa, and Workplace First Aid - Level 1.

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