3.3 Manual handling Issued: August 2012 Applies to all Contents What is a manual handling risk? Managing Manual handling risks Role of the supervisor Role of the manager Role of support Resources What is a manual A manual handling risk is any situation where an employee must use force to lift, handling risk? push, throw, pull, carry, or otherwise move, hold, or restrain an object, person or animal. Most staff manual handling risks are defined as hazardous manual handling as they involve: repetitive, or sustained application of force repetitive, or sustained awkward posture or movement moving people or objects, which may be difficult to hold or grasp. Staff manual handling tasks include, but are not limited to: assisting residents with dressing assisting residents with eating pushing wheelchairs, or providing other mobility assistance undertaking household chores, or assisting when residents undertake household chores. Managing Manual handling must be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable. Where Manual this is not reasonably practical the risk must be reduced, through one or more of handling risks the following: environmental design use of equipment information and instructions workflow planning training. This means that work practices are to be designed so that staff: do not physically lift or support the full body weight of an resident while assisting them with activities of daily living use techniques and equipment, where appropriate, that promote the individual’s independence and participation, use equipment to lift and move people and other objects, for example use a trolley to move washing and shopping are able to provide support or perform the activity as described Emergency situations are not considered activities of daily living. However, NOTE: the principles of this policy must be applied when planning for an emergency, for example evacuation procedures.
3.3 Manual handling Issued: August 2012 Applies to all Contents What is a manual handling risk? Managing Manual handling risks Role of the supervisor Role of the manager Role of support Resources What is a manual handling risk? A manual handling risk is any situation where an employee must use force to lift, push, throw, pull, carry, or otherwise move, hold, or restrain an object, person or animal. Most staff manual handling risks are defined as hazardous manual handling as they involve: repetitive, or sustained application of force repetitive, or sustained awkward posture or movement moving people or objects, which may be difficult to hold or grasp. Staff manual handling tasks include, but are not limited to: assisting residents with dressing assisting residents with eating pushing wheelchairs, or providing other mobility assistance undertaking household chores, or assisting when residents undertake household chores. Managing Manual handling risks Manual handling must be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable. Where this is not reasonably practical the risk must be reduced, through one or more of the following: environmental design use of equipment information and instructions workflow planning training. This means that work practices are to be designed so that staff: do not physically lift or support the full body weight of an resident while assisting them with activities of daily living use techniques and equipment, where appropriate, that promote the individual’s independence and participation, use equipment to lift and move people and other objects, for example use a trolley to move washing and shopping are able to provide support or perform the activity as described NOTE: Emergency situations are not considered activities of daily living. However, the principles of this policy must be applied when planning for an emergency, for example evacuation procedures.