Workbook - Moving and Handling

Grow Management Consultants
Moving
&
Handling
Work Manual
Moving and Handling
Work through the Moving and Handling information and answer the
questions at the end returning to your supervisor as soon as possible
discussing any issues arising
Hoists, slings and other Moving and Handling aids remove the need
for manual lifting. Client Moving and Handling may continue as long
as it does not involve lifting most or all of the client’s weight. The man-
ual lifting of clients is eliminated in all but exceptional or life threaten-
ing situations. Clients can be encouraged to assist in their own transfers
and handling aids must be used if they are not contrary to the clients
needs.
The Law
The 1992 Manual Handling Operations Regulations which came into force
in 1993 and the E.C. Directive 90/269 add to the earlier Health and Safety at
Work Act 1974 with regard to lifting/manual handling. They apply to all
types of load, including clients in care environments. The new laws
increase the employer’s responsibility for providing safe lifting conditions.
The key duties of the 1992 Manual Handling Regulations are: -

Employer’s duties
• Avoid the need for hazardous Moving and Handling Operations as
far as is reasonably practicable
• Assess remaining Moving and Handling operations
• Reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable
• Provide Moving and Handling training and equipment as necessary
Employees Duty
• To make full and proper use of systems of work provided
• To take reasonable care of yourself and others who may be affected
by your acts or omissions
• To cooperate with employers to ensure that statutory requirements
are met
• Not to interfere with or miss-use anything provided in the interests
of health safety and welfare
Why the need for a different approach to handling and lifting?
Each year the number of working days lost due to back problems is
increasing. Between 1987 and 1988 46.5 million working days were lost
with spinal/back problems. Despite new lifting regulations the latest figures
show an increase to 50.1 million. The cost of these problems to the
employer is financial but to you the individual this is not the only
consideration as one needs to think in terms of the pain and loss of quality
of life however temporary or long term that may be. Care is one of the
trickiest areas for the new lifting legislation because we are not in the
business of moving inanimate objects. Our day consists of moving and
handling people so not only do we have to consider our own comfort and
safety when lifting but the safety, comfort and sensitivity of our clients
Making sure you don’t hurt yourself

• Adopt a safe posture
• Wear flat supportive shoes and non restrictive clothing
• Follow the safe systems
Poor Moving and Handling of equipments will inevitably put both the
carer and equipments at risk
Now look at the following illustrations. Add arrows to show how the
weight of the upper parts of the body are distributed
You should have seen that the weight of the head is hanging in mid-air.
Therefore the muscles in the neck and back are having to do a great deal of
work to prevent the head falling further forward - and to prevent the rest of
the body following it. There are similar problems all the way down the
body in the standing posture.
Someone who has this posture will be:

• At risk of falling
• Using much more energy than necessary and will tire quickly
• Unable to expand the lungs fully
• Putting additional strain on the load bearing joints; the joints in the
neck; all the joints of the spine, the hip joints, the knees and ankles
and cause cumulative strain
You can experience the effects of cumulative strain by performing the

following exercise
• Stand upright with you feet comfortably close together

• Look up and relax your upper limbs and shoulders
• Be conscious of the weight distribution across your feet
• Now drop your head forward and take your chin comfortably to your
chest
• Be conscious of the weight distribution across your feet
• Keep your head down and lift your arms up in front of you to the
horizontal position Hold this for approximately 30 seconds before going
on to the next movement
• Now tilt forward from your hips about 30 degrees and hold this about 10
seconds
• Be conscious of the weight distribution across your feet and any other
changes in muscle tone in your body
The stiffening reaction is stimulated in every day movements as soon as the

weight of the body starts to move forward onto the pads of the toes. When
one becomes aware of ones body movements it becomes easy to realise
how important good posture is to prevent cumulative strain.
The ability to handle loads safely is not simply determined by the

strength of the muscles
Principles of Safe Manual Handling
Preparation
Before you start make sure you know: -
• How to operate any lifting aids e.g. bath hoists - you must be familiar
with them all and be able to use them without endangering your-
self.
• The correct use and care of equipment's mobility aids
• Prepare the environment - area is safe - remove obstacles
• Wear suitable clothing and footwear
The Move/manual handling operation

• Adopt a safe posture
• Relax
• Stand with feet apart (increase your base area)
• Balance your weight
• Keep your back straight and head up
• Keep the load/clients weight close to your the body
• Move smoothly without jerking
• Don’t rush!
• Be conscious of your body
• Coordinate if double handling - give clear instructions as you move
your client
• Wear suitable clothing and footwear
• Use equipment correctly/safely don’t cut any corners
• Work to the care/assessment plan
UKQCS Training
Manual Handling Questionnaire
1) What are the consequences for the employee and company if safe lift-
ing/manual handling techniques are not used?
2) If manual handling/lifting operations cannot be avoided what should be

done by the employer?
3) What are the main priorities when lifting and moving equip-
ments?
4) How can you increase you base area and stability?
5) What are the results of poor posture?
6) What do you need to know before completing manual handling

operations with a client

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Grow Management Consultants

The key duties of the 1992 Manual Handling Regulations are: -

Making sure you don’t hurt yourself

Someone who has this posture will be:

You can experience the effects of cumulative strain by performing the

• Stand upright with you feet comfortably close together

The stiffening reaction is stimulated in every day movements as soon as the

The ability to handle loads safely is not simply determined by the

The Move/manual handling operation

Manual Handling Questionnaire

2) If manual handling/lifting operations cannot be avoided what should be

4) How can you increase you base area and stability?

5) What are the results of poor posture?

6) What do you need to know before completing manual handling

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