Moving and Handling in Health and Social Care

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.

Moving and handling is a key part of the working day for most employees; from moving equipment, laundry, catering, supplies or waste to assisting residents in moving.

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

You must take action to prevent or minimise the risk of injury.

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:

• A statement of the organisation’s commitment to managing the risks associated with moving and handling people and loads
• Details of who is responsible for doing what
• Details of your risk assessment and action planning processes
• A commitment to introduce measures to reduce the risk
• Arrangements for training
• Arrangements for providing and maintaining handling equipment
• Details of your systems for monitoring compliance with the policy and for regular review
• Information for staff on reporting pain and injuries

Carrying out a risk assessment

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 than you. The person carrying out the assessments must be competent to identify and address the risks from the most complex handling activities you undertake. This usually requires specific training.

Identifying the risk:

Activities that may increase the risk include, for example:

• Assisting in person transfers
• Aiding treatment
• Assisting in carrying out daily activities (such as bathing) with individuals who will have specific needs

Two types of risk assessment are usually needed:

Generic assessments to consider the overall needs of the setting, looking at:

• The type and frequency of moving and handling tasks
• Overall equipment needs
• Staffing
• The environment
• What moving and handling would be required in emergencies such as fire evacuations or residents’ falls

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 outcome. Health and safety issues will then be identified and built into the complete care package.

Individual assessments which consider the specific moving and handling needs of care service users and form part of the care planning process.

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.

Summary checklist: Carrying out a moving and handling risk assessment

• Ensure that your assessor is suitably trained and competent
• Carry out a moving and handling assessment: to include consideration of the person’s needs and ability, task, load and environment.
• Identify what is needed to reduce the risk for all the tasks identified: to include appropriate techniques and training, equipment and accessories required for each task, number of staff needed etc.
• Record the assessment and controls necessary in the person’s individual care plan: to include details of the task, techniques to be used, equipment type and size, number of staff and any other relevant information.
• Review the handling assessment periodically, and when the person’s needs change
• Ensure you have arrangements to monitor handling activities: to help make sure correct safe techniques and equipment are used.
• Review your procedures to ensure that suitable arrangements are in place: to include competence of staff, equipment provision and management arrangements

If you require any assistance when preparing your moving and handling risk assessments, please feel free to contact Spectra where one of our experienced Consultants will be happy to provide help and guidance.