The Importance Of Moving And Handling
Moving and Handling
Moving and handling is the single most cause of injures at work in social care settings. With this in mind are there legislation in place to protect all involved and set standards;
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 requires employers to avoid all reasonable manual handling where there is a risk of injury. Requires employers to carry out risk assessments to ensure appropriate steps have been taken to reduce any risks.
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) Requires employers to ensure that any equipment used in the workplace is;
- Suitable for its intended use and the conditions in which it is used
- Safe for use and maintained
- Used only by those who have the correct
training
- Accompanied by suitable safety measures, labels, covers etc.
• Lifting operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1992 (LOLER) requires that employers take reasonable care of themselves and others by the actions they undertake. Employers have a duty to ensure all equipment provided is;
- Sufficiently strong and stable for its use
- Used safely and installed correctly
- Maintained and inspected
- Subject to prior planning before use
- Risk assessed
Following these regulations ensure that any moving and handling is done in the safest possible way. Doing things in this way ensures the safety of all involved. Incorrect use of equipment could prove fatal and would leave you and your company open to possible litigation.
In each service users home is a care plan, the care plan outlines exactly of what is to be done. What is listed in the care plan has been carefully planned, risk assessed, insured and required by the service user. It is our responsibility to ensure the care plan is carefully adhered to, if you feel that things have changed i.e. a service user’s mobility and the care plan is no longer up to date, inform your office, this is your duty. For instance a service user may use a turnsafe but struggles to get up from the chair so may need a handling belt in addition. This will ensure a safe procedure but will also need updating within the care plan.
When moving and handling it is important to engage with the service user so that they are aware of what is happening even if you feel they may not understand. The service user may get very frightened and move unexpectedly if you do not warn them of what is going to happen.
Moving and handling is the single most cause of injures at work in social care settings. With this in mind are there legislation in place to protect all involved and set standards;
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 requires employers to avoid all reasonable manual handling where there is a risk of injury. Requires employers to carry out risk assessments to ensure appropriate steps have been taken to reduce any risks.
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) Requires employers to ensure that any equipment used in the workplace is;
- Suitable for its intended use and the conditions in which it is used
- Safe for use and maintained
- Used only by those who have the correct
training
- Accompanied by suitable safety measures, labels, covers etc.
• Lifting operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1992 (LOLER) requires that employers take reasonable care of themselves and others by the actions they undertake. Employers have a duty to ensure all equipment provided is;
- Sufficiently strong and stable for its use
- Used safely and installed correctly
- Maintained and inspected
- Subject to prior planning before use
- Risk assessed
Following these regulations ensure that any moving and handling is done in the safest possible way. Doing things in this way ensures the safety of all involved. Incorrect use of equipment could prove fatal and would leave you and your company open to possible litigation.
In each service users home is a care plan, the care plan outlines exactly of what is to be done. What is listed in the care plan has been carefully planned, risk assessed, insured and required by the service user. It is our responsibility to ensure the care plan is carefully adhered to, if you feel that things have changed i.e. a service user’s mobility and the care plan is no longer up to date, inform your office, this is your duty. For instance a service user may use a turnsafe but struggles to get up from the chair so may need a handling belt in addition. This will ensure a safe procedure but will also need updating within the care plan.
When moving and handling it is important to engage with the service user so that they are aware of what is happening even if you feel they may not understand. The service user may get very frightened and move unexpectedly if you do not warn them of what is going to happen.