Moving and Handling Information and Guidance · 2018-03-21 · Moving and Handling Information and Guidance October 2017 Manual handling is the main work activity causing back disorders

Moving and Handling Information and Guidance October 2017

Moving and Handling Information and Guidance

October 2017


This booklet has been created in line with the ‘Scottish Manual Handling Passport

Scheme, Capability Scotland Policies and procedures. These are designed to

improve the standard and consistency of moving and handling training/education and

the systems that underpin it.

Through completion of the organisational Moving and Handling Induction we aim to

raise staff awareness on moving and handling, provide a clear understanding of

responsibilities, policies, procedures, practices, use of equipment and legislation

within your role whether providing assistance to customers or the transferring of

inanimate loads.

Additional advice and support can be provided by accessing the organisational

Moving and Handling policy (available through the Capability Scotland Intranet),

contacting your service trainer and/or the Moving and Handling Lead, Aimee

Gilhooley.


The manual handling operation regulations, 1992 resulted from the Manual handling

of loads – European directive, 1990 which was intended to harmonise standards of

practice throughout the whole of the European Union and sits under the umbrella of

the Health and Safety at work act 1974.

This act (in relation the manual handling) explains the general duty for employers to

have in place a safer system of work and what that entails, defines an employee’s

responsibility of their acts and omissions in the workplace and explains the potential

outcomes if they are not adhered to.

The Manual Handling Operation Regulations, 1992 (MHOR) define

“manual handling operations” as the transporting or supporting of a load

(including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by

hand or bodily force.

“load” is anything which is moveable, e.g. inanimate object, person or animal.

The regulation imposes duties (regulation 4) on;

The employer shall:

Avoid – Wherever possible, avoiding a hazardous manual handling situation is

always preferable

Assess – If avoidance is not possible, making a suitable and sufficient assessment of

the hazards is the next step

Reduce – By following the risk assessment you are reducing the risk of injury to all

persons involved to the lowest level reasonably practicable

Review – Risk assessments should be reviewed when changes occur, or when they

are no longer valid

Health & Safety at Work act 1974


The employee shall (regulation 5):

Each employee while at work shall make full and proper use of any system of work

provided for his use and by his employer in compliance with regulation 4.

In addition regulation 4 requires employers to make a suitable and sufficient

assessment of any hazardous operations that cannot be avoided. These

assessments should be carried out by employees who are occupationally competent.

In considering how to reduce the risk the following factors should be considered.

The working ENVIRONMENT

The LOAD

The INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITY

The nature of the TASK

The Management of Health and Safety at Work (Amendment) 2006

This act (in relation the manual handling) explains the circumstances in which risk

assessments should be undertaken in the workplace and the process the risk

assessment should follow.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences 1995

(R.I.D.D.O.R.)

This act (in relation the manual handling) sets out the criteria when workplace

fatalities, injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences should be reported, defines

the types of reportable injury and the reporting process.

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations, 1998

This regulation applies to the use of lifting equipment in all sectors of industry and in

all work activities. This regulation complements the MHOR, 1992 and PUWET, 1998.

lifting equipment includes any equipment where the [primary function is to lift and

covers a wide range of equipment including lifting accessories such as slings.

Regulation 9 states that employers must ensure that lifting equipment is thoroughly

examined:

o In the case of lifting equipment for lifting persons or an

accessory for lifting every 6 months

o In the case of other lifting equipment, at least every 12 months

o In either case in accordance with an examination scheme

o Each time that exceptional circumstances which are liable to

jeopardise the safety of lifting equipment have occurred and

o If appropriate for the purpose, is inspected by a competent

person at suitable intervals between thorough examinations


Thorough examinations should be undertaken by a competent person. Any defects

should be reported as per the organisational Moving and Handling policy. Records of

examinations must be kept for inspection purposes.

Competence is defined as the state or condition of being sufficiently qualified to

perform a particular action. To achieve this condition, one must possess the proper

knowledge, skills, training, and professionalism (Jonas: Mosby's, 2005).

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, 1998

This act (in relation the manual handling) details the criteria by which work

equipment should be used only for its intended purpose, maintained and the training

and supervision received on work equipment.

‘every employer shall ensure that work equipment is used only for operations

for which, and under conditions for which, it is suitable’.

What is and what is not ‘lifting equipment’

Equipment: Covered by:

Mobile/Overhead (tracking) hoists LOLER

Stand and raising aids LOLER

Bath hoists LOLER

Bath lifts LOLER

Lifting platforms LOLER

Stair lifts LOLER

Slings LOLER

Spreader bar extension strap/hooks LOLER

Standing turners PUWER

Riser recliner chairs PUWER

Profiling beds PUWER

Active mattresses PUWER

Recliner baths PUWER

It is the responsibility of every employee to ensure they have access to and are

familiar with the contents of all Moving and handling related legislation and

organisational policies and procedures.


Manual handling is the main work activity causing back disorders with high rates in

nursing and personal care occupations. In 2015/16 MSD’s accounted for 8.8 million

working days lost an average of 16 days for each case. Work related

musculoskeletal disorders account for 34% of all working days lost due to work

related ill health. The HSE have identified that MSDs and good spinal health are a

priority due to the potential impact on people’s lives.

Your back is a complex system consisting of bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles

and discs which consist of:

o 33 bones or vertebrae (24 are moveable) which are divided into 5 sections

o 7 cervical

o 12 thoracic

o 5 lumbar

o 5 sacrum

o 4 coccyx

The adult spine is an elongated S shape as seen below

fused


The spinal cord passes down through the middle of the spinal column and is

protected by the vertebrae. It extends from the base of the skull to the top of the

second lumbar vertebrae. The spinal cord acts as channel for information (motor and

sensory) and for co-ordinating certain reflexes.

Muscles, ligaments and tendons of the spine are needed to assist in maintaining

the position of the S shape by holding the vertebrae in proper alignment. The

function then is to stabilise the spine, control movement and help the spine carry

loads created during normal day to day activities.

Although incredibly strong the spine is not designed for lifting heavy loads.

Intervertebral discs are soft cushions made from cartilaginous tissue and sit

between the vertebrae. Their function is to facilitate movement, to separate the

individual vertebrae and act as shock absorbers as we move.

A slipped disc occurs when the jelly like substance escapes through a weakness in

the outer layer of the disc. This in turn presses against the spinal cord causing

numbness, pain and pins and needles.

A back disorder begins to develop long before the first episode of pain and the

problem usually still remains long after the pain subsides. This can be triggered by a

twist, a fall or even a sneeze. Some causes of back pain are detailed below:

o Poor Posture – how we sit, stand or move

o Faulty body mechanics – how we lift, lower, push, pull and move objects

o Stressful living and working habits – staying in one position too long and not

learning how to relax

o Loss of flexibility- becoming stiff and unable to use full range of body

movements

o Poor physical condition – losing the strength and endurance necessary to

perform physical tasks without strain

Poor posture will usually produce increased strain on the supporting structures and

inadequate balance over our base of support. The long term impact of poor posture

could be joint damage, increased stress in the muscles, ligaments and tendons

therefore resulting in back, neck or shoulder pain, frequent headaches and tiredness.


MOVING AND HANDLING TOP TIPS FOR MAINTAIN GOOD SPINAL HEALTH.

Keep the office well lit and set the right temperature

Sit facing ahead, feet flat on the floor with your legs uncrossed

Regulary sit up tall and take a deep breath to refresh the air in your lungs

Seek advice for suspected health problems early

Dont wedge the telephone between your ear and shoulder

Be strict with yourlef about taking regular micro breaks from your desk/PC

Take the stairs not the lift

Dont skip meals and do drink water regularly

Vary your tasks to give your body a range of different postures

Go for a walk at least once a week

Do some easy exercises every hour like some bicep curls

Take your full lunch break and get away from your desk.


Safe systems of work and Safer movement principles

A system of work is a set of procedures according to which work must be carried out.

Safe systems of work are required where hazards cannot be eliminated and some

risk still exists. In order to effectively achieve this there are several safer movement

principles that should be adopted in order to prevent injury or harm to yourself or the

customer you are assisting. These principles should also be adopted for inanimate

load handling.

1. Get in close to the person you are assisting the further away the person is

the more strain you are likely to suffer.

2. Relax your knees this allows you to adjust your position as necessary and

use your large leg muscles to provide the power for an assisted move

3. Adopt a balanced position, for example in standing feet offset, if assisting

on a low bed one knee on the bed or if working on the floor in open kneeling.

4. Adopt a secure and comfortable hold Use your whole hand avoiding a

finger grip. When assisting people to move the best place for you to provide

support is usually over the shoulder blades and hips.

5. Your back should be in its relaxed natural upright position – avoid

stooping, twisting and side bending which could lead to pain and discomfort.

6. Lead upwards with the crown of the head at the moment of effort, this

helps keep your spine in it’s natural S shape

7. Move slowly and smoothly and avoid hurrying

Communication is a vital tool in effective and efficient Moving and Handling. The

customer is integral to the transfer and should be treated as such, good

communication may help them relax and co-operate.

Establish how you will communicate with the customer given their condition and seek

further information from the customers individual Moving and Handling Risk

Assessment. Explain what the transfer will consist of and the commands you will

use. Always be aware of your voice, tone and body language as these are often

more powerful than the spoken word.


Risk Assessment

Every move you need to assist with should be assessed for risks. Your employer or

supervisor will be responsible for carrying out the risk assessment, but you may be

required to assist.

What is Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment identifies possible hazards at work and how likely they are to

cause an incident or injury. You and your employer should work together to remove

hazards and reduce the risk as much as is reasonably practicable.

The completed Risk Assessment becomes part of the customers care plan for that

person. It should be reviewed and updated regularly as the customer’s condition or

circumstances change as it is a fluid tool for managing risk.

You must notify your line manager about any concerns or changes as soon as they

arise.

Identifying risk

A Risk Assessment looks at any factor that could cause an accident or injury. Follow

the TILE rule to identify risk factors.

Load (customer or

object being moved)

Has the customer been consulted? Do you know the persons

medical condition and physical disability? Is the person at risk of

injury from any sudden movements? Are special precautions

needed for the equipment such as catheters or splints? Do you

have the right handling aid for the job? Is the Load bulky or

unpredictable?

Individual Capability Do you have the skills needed to carry out the move? Are you

physically able to help with the move? Are you wearing suitable

clothing? (Refer to organisational Code of Ethics). Does the task

require any unusual capability?

Task What are you trying to achieve with the manoeuvre? What steps are

involved? How often will the manoeuvre be repeated? Are there any

exceptional circumstances? What is the distance to be covered?

Is this a new or unusual task? Are mechanical devices required?

Environment Is there enough space for the manoeuvre? Is there enough light? Are

the floors clear from obstructions?


Inanimate load handling

There is no such thing as a completely ‘safe’ Moving and Handling task. But working

within the following guidelines will help reduce any associated risks.

Think before lifting/handling. Plan the lift. Can handling aids be used? Where is

the load going to be placed? Will help be needed with the load? Remove

obstructions such as discarded wrapping materials. For a long lift of an inanimate

load, consider resting the load midway on a table or bench to change grip

Adopt a stable position. The feet should be apart with one leg slightly forward to

maintain balance (alongside the load, if it is on the ground). The handler should be

prepared to move their feet during the lift to maintain their stability. Avoid tight

clothing or unsuitable footwear, which may make this difficult.

Get a good hold. Where possible, the load should be hugged as close as possible

to the body with your elbows tucked in at your waist (short levers).

Start in a good posture. At the start of the lift, slight bending of the back, hips and

knees is preferable to fully flexing the back (stooping) or fully flexing the hips and

knees (squatting).

Don’t flex the back any further while lifting. This can happen if the legs begin to

straighten before starting to raise the load.

Keep the load close to the waist. Keep the load close to the body for as long as

possible while lifting. Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body. If a close

approach to the load is not possible, try to slide it towards the body before attempting

to lift it.

Avoid twisting the back or leaning sideways (especially while the back is bent).

Shoulders should be kept level and facing in the same direction as the hips. Turning

by moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time.


Keep the head up when handling. Look ahead, not down at the load, once it has

been held securely.

Move smoothly. The load should not be jerked or snatched as this can make it

harder to keep control and can increase the risk of injury.

Don’t lift or handle more than can be easily managed. There is a difference

between what people can lift and what they can safely lift. If in doubt, seek advice or

get help.

Put down, then adjust. If precise positioning of the load is necessary, put it down

first, then slide it into the desired position.

In the diagram below each box contains a guidance weight for lifting and lowering in

that area. The guidance weights are reduced if you keep your levers short as

previously explained. With arms extended, or at high or low levels, this will increase

your risk of injury. The guidance weights assume that the load is readily grasped with

both hands and that the operation takes place in reasonable working conditions, with

the lifter in a stable body position.

HSE 2017


Team lifting.

Communication is key when more than one handler is involved in a transfer.

o Identify a lead handler

o Practice commands e.g. ready, steady, stand

o Steady fluid movements

Where possible all those involved in team handling should be matched on height and

weight. If not a compromise should be found.

Good handling technique for pushing and pulling

Aids such as barrows and trolleys should have handle heights that are between the

shoulder and waist. Devices should be well maintained with wheels that run

smoothly. The law requires that equipment is maintained. When you buy new trolleys

etc, make sure they are good quality with large diameter wheels made of suitable

material and with castors, bearings etc which will last with minimum maintenance..

Force. As a rough guide the amount of force that needs to be applied to move a load

over a flat, level surface using a well-maintained handling aid is at least 2% of the

load weight. For example, if the load weight is 400 kg, then the force needed to

move the load is 8 kg. The force needed will be larger, perhaps a lot larger, if

conditions are not perfect (eg wheels not in the right position or a device that is

poorly maintained). The operator should try to push rather than pull when moving a

load, provided they can see over it and control steering and stopping.

Slopes. Employees should get help from another worker whenever necessary, if

they have to negotiate a slope or ramp, as pushing and pulling forces can be very

high.

Uneven surfaces. Moving an object over soft or uneven surfaces requires higher

forces. On an uneven surface, the force needed to start the load moving could

increase to 10% of the load weight, although this might be offset to some extent by

using larger wheels.

Stance and pace. To make it easier to push or pull, employees should keep their

feet well away from the load and go no faster than walking speed. This will stop them

becoming too tired too quickly.


Workstation organisation

A workstation comprises of all the computer equipment of keyboard, monitor, mouse

and also includes chair and additional office equipment such as telephone filing trays

etc. The immediate environment around your working area is also part of your

workstation. If you do not set up your workstation correctly for you it can cause long

term problems with your arms, shoulders or back. The correct setup might not feel

right straight away, however by adopting correct posture, layout of equipment etc

can minimise the risks to your health later.

Capability Scotland in line with the Display Screen Equipment Regulations (DSE),

1992. State that as ‘Users’ of DSE. A risk Assessment must reviewed at least

annually or sooner whenever equipment, staff or working routines are to be altered,

and any resulting action is implemented. For additional information please refer to

Use of Display Screen Equipment Procedure.

Breaking up long spells of DSE work and therefore static postures can help prevent fatigue, eye strain, upper limb problems and backache.

The following may help DSE users:

o Stretch and change position. o Look into the distance from time to time, and blink often. o Change activity before users get tired, rather than to recover. o Short, frequent breaks are better than longer, infrequent ones. Timing and length of changes in activity or breaks for DSE use is not set down in law and arrangements will vary depending on a particular situation.

Driving Posture

• Head rest level with base of head

• Arms slightly bent

• Spine fully supported

• Pelvis free from pressure

• Thighs fully supported

• Pedals easily reached


Emergency Moving and Handling The Royal College of Nursing and the National Back Pain Association advise that there are only four situations that can be described as an unforeseen event/emergency. These are when a person is in imminent danger of:

Drowning

A bomb or bullet

A collapsing building or structure

Being in an area that is actually on fire or filling with smoke Situations (in addition to the above stated) that may require an urgent response from staff are likely to include the management of seizures, the use of physical interventions and protecting customers from imminent danger, e.g. removal from a busy road.

Controversial manoeuvres

Unless there is an emergency (needing immediate action to avoid serious harm to a

patients health) the following must NOT be carried out:

Drag Lift.

Australian or shoulder lift.

Orthodox or cradle lift.

Any manoeuvres involving the patient’s hands being situated around the handler’s neck or body.

Any other procedure involving the lifting of most or the entire body weight of a patient, without a mechanical lifting aid.

In Summary

1. Follow organisational procedures

2. Encourage the customer to help

3. Get help if you need it

4. Don’t take any chances

5. Review each move

Remember, your safety and the customers safety depends of safe handling. Always

work within your own knowledge, skills and ability.

Documents

Moving and Handling Information and Guidance · 2018-03-21 · Moving and Handling Information and Guidance October 2017 Manual handling is the main work activity causing back disorders