This can result in significant discomfort for a number of days, but it can also result in long-term health problems. Repetitive incorrect manual handling can damage muscle and ligaments, which can mean extended time off work, and even forced early retirement.
In a care environment, employees may need to help people who have little or no ability to move on their own. This can range from giving support while working, or using hoists to move patients in and out of bathing areas.
Without the correct technique, falls can occur, or people can be otherwise hurt. The specifics of how you should approach various moving and handling tasks should be detailed in any training that you take on the subject. However, there are a broad number of steps involved in any good manual handling policy.
Understanding these will help anyone approach manual handling in an effective manner. The first step in approaching any manual handling task, whether in care or otherwise, is to establish what the risks might be. By moving a person, is there a risk that you might hurt yourself, or that the person could be hurt? Might there also be a lack of respect for their dignity? Once the risks are understood, they should be avoided if at all possible. In an office of instance, this might mean avoiding the carrying of a heavy box entirely.
Instead, individual files from the box might be moved. There are many different things that can be done to move heavy objects and people more safely. Proper technique is hugely important, which means lifting or moving in the right way, and with the right muscles.
Having a second person helping you is often very important too. And finally, the right equipment must be used; for example, many care homes will have lifting hoists and other equipment that makes moving people much easier, safer, and more dignified. Lastly, and more importantly, for those responsible for manual handling policies, is reviewing the manual handling techniques.
Do the current processes allow jobs to be carried out safely? Tasks related to moving and handling Moving and handling in the care sector encompasses any time that you support a person in your care to move.
This includes, but is not limited to: Helping people to get in and out of bed. Supporting with bathing, showering and bed baths. Supporting people to use the toilet. Helping the people in your care to walk. Supporting people when sitting down. Supporting when getting into and out of a vehicle. Legislation helps to protect you and those in your care from injury. The legislation focuses upon reducing risk and risk assessments. Injuries that usually occur as the result of moving and handling.
Injuries can impact upon our mental health. Factors that increase the risk of injury from moving and handling. Typical risk factors that can increase the risk of injury include: The type of work.
If you are working in a fixed posture for a long period of time, your likelihood of injury is increased. The layout of the workplace. If you are working in a poorly designed area that is cramped, this can cause you to assume awkward postures when moving and handling. This can result in injury. The weight of the object. Obviously it goes without saying that if an object, in our case a person, is heavy they are going to be more difficult to lift.
The location of the person. If they are in a difficult location, such as on the floor, they are going to be far more difficult to move safely. This is due to their size, shape and clothing. It can mean that grasping the person to move them is difficult.
In addition to that, unlike stationary objects, people have a tendency to move. Sudden movements while you are moving a person can cause injuries. Shortages of staff can make moving and handling difficult. Getting Started. Business and Education Supports. Workplace Transport Safety Load Securing.
Accidents and Behaviour Bullying at Work. Workplace Stress. The key requirements include: Carrying out a manual handling risk assessment of existing manual handling tasks before making an informed decision on what manual handling tasks need to be avoided or reduced.
Organising tasks to allow the use of mechanical or other means to avoid or reduce the need for the manual handling of loads by employees in the workplace. The hazards can be avoided or reduced through the introduction of appropriate organisational measures for example improved layout of a work area to reduce unnecessary long carrying distances; or the use of appropriate means, in particular mechanical equipment Providing instruction and training to relevant staff.
Back to Question List Do I need to assess every manual handling task? Back to Question List Why does manual handling result in a risk of injury or ill health? The picture below illustrates some examples of work conditions that involve risk: Back to Question List How do I carry out a risk assessment of manual handling tasks? Refer to the Manual Handling Risk Assessment Video Series for examples how to conduct a risk assessment of a manual handling task: Stage 1: This stage involves collecting information on how the task is performed and identifying the key stages in the task.
This should be a team effort involving consultation with those that normally do the job. You or the person carrying out the assessment should have a thorough practical understanding of the type of manual handling tasks being carried out.
Stage 2: Collect all technical details to include information on the load weight, load size, number of manual lifts, general information on postures observed and the work environment Stage 3: Identify the problems or risk factors.
Stage 4: Identify what improvements you can put in place. Once you have identified the risk factors, it is necessary to investigate potential solutions.
Examples of efforts that should be made include using mechanical aids, organising the work activity to reduce the need for travelling long distance or reducing the size of the load. Clearly document the rationale for deciding on the appropriate control measure, outlining why other control measures were not possible and how the suggested control measure will avoid or reduce the risk of injury.
Employees should be consulted as part of this process and where a new work activity is introduced it needs to be assessed to ensure that it does not introduce new hazards. Stage 5: Review the effectiveness of the control measures: Effectiveness is the degree to which the control measures have avoided or reduced the risk of injury. Back to Question List Are there appropriate guidance documents to refer to for advice and direction on how to comply with the Manual Handling of Loads Regulation?
Download the Guide on the Manual Handling Training System - Revision Back to Question List What is the current guidance on course content of a manual handling training course for employees?
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