Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By Stephen Gilpin
Hi, can anyone tell me whether or not Manual Handling training for staff is an absolute must please?. I work within the care sector and I am the H&S rep/trainer. we have 3 residential care homes and 1 office for staff to enter service users (clients) homes and assist them with attending appointments, shopping and general domestic support and duties this is our reachout unit.the residential homes staff have received up to date manual handling training, however the reachout staff have not and the manager is questioning if I need to carryout training for the staff in this unit. I have carried out risk assessment and identified there are manual handling duties involved in the work expected from staff, but these are light duties but cooking and shopping are a part of daily duties.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Neil R
If manual handling issues are present as determined by your risk assessment and you can not eliminate the need for it then you should provide training.
The manual handling regs will give you more information on what your specific duties are (mainly based around elimination and use of mechanical aids).
It's important to remember the HSWA though, 'information, instruction, training and supervision' manual handling is one of the biggest causes of injury and ill health so if its present provide training.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Alan Spiers
Proportionality and sensible risk assessments means we do not need to provide training for 'life skills'manual handling of insignificant every day items. However you may need to remind staff not to overload such things as shopping bags making them too heavy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ali
The Manual Handling Operations Regs 1992 legally require a risk assessment where there is a risk of injury and manual handling is unavoidable. In order for the risks to be minimised, control measures would need to be put in place and Training is just one of the many control measures. In any case section 2c of HASAwA 1974 specifically includes a general requirement for Training.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By W P F
One of the main issues in the care industry is manual handling plus mechanical handling.
I would suggest that any risk assessment would determine hazards that the lifting, pulling, pushing, or moving any object with any physical force is indeed identified. Therefore, would suggest that you look at training.
You could perhaps send an individual on a 'train the trainer' course for manual handling and they could train staff?
Regards
WPF
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By ian chapman
Based on your risk assessment i would get it done. Look at the man in the big white wig. Can you and your manager afford to stand up in court and be confident in saying we are happy and confident with what we have put in place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Eddie
I agree that the RA would provide the information needed to help decide on the need for training, however, the poster has already stated that this has identified the tasks undertaken by the support staff as being shopping, light cooking etc.
I am not sure that these are the "significant risks" that would require engineering controls, training etc to manage.
Alan's post on proportionality hit the nail on the head and suggests a more balanced view.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Darren J Fraser
As both Alan and Eddie have already stated, take a realistic view. If still in doubt, a short 5 or 10 minute toolbox talk on the simple do's and dont's will suffice, could even get each attendee to sign to say been explained. Job done, put to bed (no pun intended) and move on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Swis
Sorry if this has been already mentioned in previous posts…
It depends on your risk assessment. If the outcome of the assessments highlights the needs of training then it is MUST.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ali
As an ex Inspector we always required Training in care homes, particularly where patients were involved. However, if you have portable hoists, stairlifts etc it may no longer be necessary. As the others have alluded to it should be based on risk assessment - just make sure you have done one before the Inspector calls.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Stephen Gilpin
Many thanks to you all for your advice and views, It appears that my intial thoughts are correct, we have no hoists etc but some of the lifting etc can be quite heavy and along with the nature of the job in hand then, I will ensure that adequate and realistic training will be designed for the tasks needed as per the risk assessments and i will also provide our staff risk assessment training as a part of the training package.
Many thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ron Hunter
People moving and handling (whether or not hoists, slings etc. are involved) is IMHO a very specific and demanding role requiring specialist training (training beyond the scope of the average practitioner).
For the outreach unit, I generally agree with consensus,provide a briefing/toolbox talk. Otherwise, you are presumably talking about "everyday" risks, & presuming the work activity does not compound the risks.
Where your workers have time pressures (so many client's needs to attend to per day) it may be that there is a compounding of that 'everyday' risk and more formal training might be appropriate - your Risk Assessment & your call!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By brian handman
hi stephen
i train moving and handling people within the care sector myself and if any of the support / care workers are assissting or handling the service users then it is essential that they are trained in moving and handling peopole and the law surrounding this task i would be happy to advise you at aany time on the kind of content that should be covered in such a session
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By brian handman
just to let you know that a moving and handling course will cover all things manual handling and also the dangers of moving and handling service users and techniques to do this safely
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ali
I should have told you, but the 1st part of any manual handling risk assessment is "avoidance". Hence, you will need to demonstrate to the HSE why it is that you have introduced no safe system of work, mechanical aids etc in lieu of handling ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.