Moving and Handling in the Health and Social Care industry

Employees in the health and social care sectors may be involved in moving and handling activities such as moving equipment, laundry, catering, distributing supplies or assisting patients/residents in moving. 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.

Common carers' injuries

The most common injuries carers experience are back injuries. Injuring your back will limit your movement and your ability to work or care for someone. It could take a long time for you to recover. Lifting someone incorrectly can also damage fragile skin, cause shoulder and neck injuries, increase existing breathing difficulties, or cause bruising. Poor moving and handling practice can lead to:

• back pain and musculoskeletal disorders, which can lead to inability to work
• moving and handling accidents – which can injure both the person being moved and the employee
• discomfort and a lack of dignity for the person being moved

Managing moving and handling risks

If risks from moving and handling are to be managed successfully, there must be support from those at the top of the organisation, whatever its size. Key elements include:

• recognition of the risks
• commitment to introducing precautions to reduce that risk
• a statement of clear roles and responsibilities
• an explanation of what is expected from individual employees
• arrangements for training and providing / maintaining equipment
• arrangements for monitoring compliance
• a commitment to supporting people who have been injured in connection with their work

The following legislation may be relevant for assessing moving and handling risks:

• Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA)
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR) (amended 2002)
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

Employers must reduce the risk of injury to staff and people using care services by:

• avoiding those manual handling tasks that could result in injury, where reasonably practicable
• assessing the risks from moving and handling that cannot be avoided
• putting measures in place to reduce the risk, where reasonably practicable

Employees must:

• follow appropriate systems of work and use the equipment provided
• co-operate with their employer and let them know of any problems
• take reasonable care to ensure that their actions do not put themselves or others at risk

Use moving and handling equipment

The correct use of moving and handling equipment may reduce the risk of injury. The type and amount of equipment needed will vary according to the specific needs of care service users. When providing equipment, providers should consider the needs of the individual (while helping to maintain independence wherever possible), and the safety of the individual and staff. Necessary equipment may include:

• a selection of hoists – eg hoists to raise fallen individuals from the floor, standing hoists, mobile hoists etc
• bath hoists or bath lifts and/or adjustable height baths
• a sufficient number of slings of different types and sizes
• slide sheets
• transfer boards used to assist in moving from and to different furniture (eg. seat to wheelchair)
• turntables used to assist in turning people around
• electric profiling beds – for dependent/immobile residents
• wheelchairs
• handling belts to assist residents who can support their own weight, e.g. to help them stand up. They should not be used for lifting
• lifting cushions used to assist people to get up from the floor or bath
• bed levers, support rails/poles
• emergency evacuation equipment
• suitable walking aids, hand rails etc for people needing minor assistance
• bariatric equipment (i.e. for use with very heavy people)

Introduce equipment only after assessment and use in accordance with the care plan and manufacturer’s instructions.

Review moving and handling training

Ensure that staff who participate in moving and handling activities are properly trained, that their training is relevant and that a schedule of refresher training and/or continuous professional development is in place.

• Osteopaths For Industry offers a range of moving and handling training courses.