I’m currently on a Preparing to Teach in the lifelong learning sector training course. I will have to do a small teaching session at the end and was thinking of manual handling. While thinking about the subject and looking at the course notes regarding equal opportunities and disabilities etc, I wondered if any of you have had to provide manual handling training for those in wheel chairs. Specifically I was thinking about lifting.

I doubt very much I will have time to actually include anything in my actual 20 minute session, but curiosity has started to get the better of me. Are there any particular techniques to be used, as in my mind if lifting from the floor or even an adjacent work bench / table you would have to stretch quite a bit.

Any thoughts / views on this topic are welcome

Hi Chris

I think the best thing would be to say you should always speak to the individual. I have a member of staff in a wheelchair who handles files. He is happy to carry them on his lap in a bundle or use a small laptop crossbody type bag to transport them if there is any distance involved. He also knows to ask for help if there are files below knee height or above head height and the staff in the area will give him a hand. The HSE have recommended weights when seated so could include that image in your presentation but stress that the individual should be consulted as they may have additional difficulties which make it difficult for them to grasp the item.

Good luck!

jwk,
Could you please supply me details of the devices you mentioned that fit into ordinary cars.
Regards
Russ

Chris
Not one I would normally have answered until a few weeks ago but having spent a short time as a wheelchair user I feel able to offer a little advice. I think you need to be very careful with this one as the mobility of each user needs to be assessed. In my case I was recovering from a broken ankle - no risk assessment comments please - so other than having one leg which was none weight bearing the rest of my mobility was unimpaired. For other chair users this will not be the case. For me it was no different picking up things from the floor than it would be for you sat at your office chair. In fact as I was closer to the ground it was easier. Yes you have to be sensible with the weight as you are not in a good ergonomic position.

Thanks to all those that replied and some very good points.

Sorry I should have said that obviously one should do a RA for each individual, but this is not aimed at anyone in particular or any particular industry. I was just wondering if there was any recognised best or generic way to lift when in a wheel chair. The equivalent of the placing of feet appropriately by the object to be lifted, bend knees and use legs to lift etc etc, (you know the training on how to lift an empty cardboard box) for those in a wheelchair.

The course notes cover equal opportunities and disabilities, so they are not disadvantaged during any teaching session, so wondered how this may apply to my intended micro teach if I had someone in a wheelchair (which I don’t). Obviously people may have other things wrong with them, but this scenario made me wonder. There are many people in wheelchairs in work and quite a lot of organisations where routinely other workers are given external manual handling training. I could not help wonder what would happen if someone in a wheelchair turned up on one of these courses. Would they be catered for or sent away?. Perhaps this is the devil in me showing his/her head.

I have tried the HSE web site but ended up with either general manual handling info or how to move someone in a wheelchair.
Thanks Melrose80086 for the idea of just looking for info when someone is seated, rather than in a wheelchair.

Just spent a few minutes picking things up from the floor while seated, it seems that if the item is low and flat like a pad of paper it was easiest if it was by my feet, opposed to by my side, but if the item is a little taller, then it was easier by my side. Either way my back had to bend and probably would not be good to do either repeatedly. Wheelchairs additionally have foot rests which are likely to hinder the process. Perhaps there is no recognised “best“ method.

Thanks again for those that responded.

Just to reiterate, the person might not be able bodied (upper body) as well so might have issues actually gripping the item. E.g. cerebral palsy or parkinson's disease so would treat every case individually so need to consider that in any risk assessment.

Having given manual handling training in the past in a consultancy position, I'd never have turned someone away if they were in a wheelchair from attending the training session and would have likely have asked those attending for suggestions to see what they came up with THEN asked the individual how they normally lifted something - just to see if there were any novel solutions (or the alternative..."oh, just don't lift" responses!). Most people who have been wheelchair bound since birth will have developed a technique that works for them and are aware of their capabilities and when they need help. It's the people who break legs that you've to watch for LOL!! they think they can still lift the same amount as usual and are at risk from injury from overexertining themselves.