Moving and handling are essential components of day-to-day operations in a health and social care setting. Employees in this sector must perform moving and handling tasks safely, whether it is moving equipment and loads or assisting in the movement of patients and ensuring safety and efficiency.
Safe moving and handling ensures the continued health and well-being of everyone involved in the moving and handling process, as well as staff compliance with laws and regulations concerning the main principles of safe moving and handling in social care. In this article, we will discuss what moving and handling is, explain the principles for safe moving and handling, the equipment that can be used throughout its processes, the regulations, and the moving and handling risk assessments involved in the social care setting.
What is Moving and Handling?
Moving and handling are common aspects of health and social care that involve the movement and manual handling of patients, as well as other items or loads. When it is not performed safely, moving and handling can put those involved at serious risk.
Following are the common tasks involving moving or handling, but are not limited to:
- Assisting with washing or bathing someone
- Assisting with the movement of a person to the restroom.
- Assisting someone into and out of bed.
- Helping someone to walk, sit, or stand.
- Lifting and carrying objects, laundry, and cleaning supplies
Before performing any moving or handling in health and social care, full training and guidelines for safe moving are required to ensure the safety of all staff members and patients. Practical training sessions and assessments are commonly utilised to determine whether a person is competent enough to move and handle objects safely.
Serious moving and handling tasks frequently require the use of specialised lifting equipment, making the process safer and less strenuous. Ensuring that equipment is properly maintained is an important aspect of safe moving and handling because, without fully functional equipment, tasks cannot be completed safely and effectively, increasing the risk of injury.
What are the Guidelines for Safe Moving and Handling in Social Care?
The principles of safe moving and handling describe the best ways to handle and move patients and loads in keeping with national guidelines. We discuss each of these in more detail below.
Assessing The Situation
Before beginning a moving and handling task, staff must assess and consider the following:
- The environment in which moving and handling will occur.
- Is the handler capable enough to perform the task, taking into account age, health, and size?
- What is the nature of the load, is it a person or an inanimate object?
After thinking about each of these, you can begin a moving and handling task.
Planning
Before moving or handling a patient, it is essential to assess the individual to figure out the best way to meet their specific needs and circumstances, as well as to identify any potential risks that may arise during the process.
Following that, staff members can decide the best course of action and precautions to take to make sure the person is moved as safely as possible.
Other factors to be considered in planning a moving or handling task include;
- The weight of the load being moved, whether the people involved in the moving and handling can lift it, and the distance of movement required.
- The space provided ensures that the movement carries through into the effect.
- Equipment available and the suitability of the equipment for the activity being undertaken in relation to moving and handling.
- The techniques and practices are used to ensure safety during handling and moving processes for those involved in handling and moving.
Prepare
After making plans for the moving and handling procedure, the next step should be to ensure that the route and process are as smooth as possible. Minimising distance and removing possible barriers or obstacles from the route can reduce the risk of injury for both parties.
Dressing appropriately will also help to ensure that the moving and handling process runs smoothly. Removing any jewellery that could get caught is also an important step in preparing for moving and handling.
What are the Moving and Handling Methods?
There are several procedures that must be followed during the moving and handling process. They are:
Get a secure, tight grip
When handling a load, the handler should maintain a tight and secure grip while also ensuring that the grip is comfortable for the patient being handled. Communicating before the procedure should be done to ensure that the patient is not uncomfortable and knows what to say if they are.
Set your feet correctly
Before moving and handling a patient, the handler should position their feet comfortably, about shoulder width apart, to provide a broad base of support and stability during the task.
Maintain good posture throughout
Maintaining an upright posture and position while moving and handling reduces strain on the back’s joints and muscles, allowing the spine’s natural curvature and alignment to be maintained. When combined with abdominal muscle bracing to support the spine, this eliminates any excess stress on the back’s muscles, joints, and bones, as well as any twisting that may cause musculoskeletal injuries.
Hold the load close
Positioning the load as close to the body as possible reduces the strain or stress placed on the lumbar spine during the procedure, lowering the risk of muscular or skeletal problems. Keeping the head upright and the neck straight while performing these actions will also help reduce the risk of injury during the procedure.
What Kinds of Moving and Handling Equipment Are There?
There are several types of moving and handling equipment available that are specifically designed for the needs of care service users and the tasks they perform when transporting their patients from one location to another.
Before moving and handling, the equipment used to assist in the moving and handling process should be chosen based on the user’s specific needs, as well as the patient’s safety. Examples of the most commonly used moving and handling equipment are:
- Walking aids
- Wheelchairs
- Hoists: Used to raise individuals for relocation
- Bed levers
- Handling Belts
- Slide sheets
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