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The moving and handling of people is a regular task in health and social care, which if not done safely, can cause serious injury to service users and staff. These pages concentrate on reducing the...
- What You Need to Do
Care providers should balance the safety of employees with...
- Case Studies and Research
Safety alerts; Topics. Overview - Topics; Cytotoxic drugs;...
- Moving and Handling Equipment
failure to use a safety harness, belt or attachment...
- Guidance on Regulations
Employers must comply with the Manual Handling Operations...
- Legislation Explained
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the primary...
- L113
Date of publication: December 2014 (with amendments 2018)...
- What You Need to Do
Jun 16, 2024 · By understanding and applying the principles of safe moving and handling, conducting thorough risk assessments, and using appropriate methods and equipment, you can create a safer and more effective care environment. Remember to keep learning and improving your skills continuously.
- Think before handling/lifting. Plan the lift/handling activity. Where is the load going to be placed? Use suitable handling aids where possible. Will you need help with the load?
- Keep the load close to your waist for as long as possible while lifting. Keep the heaviest side of the load next to your body. If you can't get close to the load, try to slide it towards your body before you try to lift it.
- Ensure a good hold on the load. Where possible, hug the load as close as possible to your body. This may be better than gripping it tightly with just your hands.
- Slight bending of your back, hips and knees at the start of the lift is preferable to either fully flexing your back (stooping) or fully flexing your hips and knees (full/deep squatting).
- Do I Need A Manual Handling Policy?
- Carrying Out A Risk Assessment
- Identifying The Risk
- Generic Risk Assessments
- Individual Risk Assessments
- Monitoring and Review
Health and social care providers carrying out a wide variety of moving and handling activities may need to develop a moving and handling policy. Key elements should include: 1. a statement of the organisation's commitment to managing the risks associated with moving and handling people and loads 2. details of who is responsible for doing what 3. de...
Moving and handling risk assessments help identify where injuries could occur and what to do to prevent them. It should be possible to complete the majority of assessments in-house as no-one knows your business better. The person carrying out the assessments must be competentto identify and address the risks from the most complex handling activitie...
Activities that may increase the risk include, for example: 1. assisting in person transfers 2. aiding treatment 3. assisting in carrying out daily activities (such as bathing) with individuals who will have specific needs Assessments, care needs, competence and equipment provision are some of the factors that need to be addressed but handling peop...
Care providers should balance the safety of employees with the needs, safety and rights of the people using care services. Manual handling policies and practice should not place unreasonable restrictions on residents' rights to autonomy, privacy or dignity. Risk assessment should be part of a wider needs assessment process to achieve the best outco...
The assessment should be person-centred and, where possible, involve the service user or their family in decisions about how their needs are met. This can reassure them about the safety and comfort of the equipment, and how it and the methods used will ensure their safety and the safety of staff. Record the risk assessment and care plan. Include de...
Risk assessments should be reviewed periodically and whenever circumstances change to ensure they remain current. There should also be arrangements in place to ensure that moving and handling activities are monitored to ensure that correct procedures, techniques and equipment are being used.
- Prepare and Plan Ahead. Whenever you assist with transfers or repositioning, you should: Take time to gather equipment. Assess the environment.
- Use the right body movements. The medical world’s old mantra was “lift with your legs, not your back,”. However, a 2021 research by Michael von Arx and team shows that lifting with just the legs can still strain the spine tissues to their limits.
- Keep your feet moving; avoid twisting your body. Common training just says “don’t twist your back!” But even certain ways of stepping still makes the torso need to suddenly turn in ways that squeeze the spine.
- Hold correctly. Even with good movement, wrong grabs can hurt the back more. Holding someone the wrong way increases press and rub forces on the spine.
Moving objects or furniture for someone. Helping someone get into and out of cars, buses etc. Carrying food or other objects for someone. With all of these different tasks in mind, it’s important to remember any one of these tasks carried out with insufficient training could cause serious injury to you and your patient.
People also ask
Why is safe moving and handling important?
What are the principles of safe moving and handling practices?
How do you control potential risks using moving and handling techniques?
How do you keep a person safe when lifting a load?
Complying with your employer’s agreed ways of working (policies and procedures), equipment manufacturer’s guidelines and individual’s care plans. Only using equipment for it’s intended purpose. Ensure equipment is safe and clean. Complying with warning or safety labels and signs.
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