a) RISK

A risk is the likelihood of a hazard causing harm (high or low). Anyone involved in manual handling could be at risk. Injuries and suffering can be linked to any work involving handling of loads. The weight of the item is an important factor, but many other factors can create a risk of injury. There are risks in handling light loads if the task is repetitive and is being carried out in poor conditions. Other risks include twisting, bending, stretching or any other awkward posture that is adopted during the completion of a task or activity. 

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (amended in 2002) or MHOR, require employers to:

• Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling where you can.
• Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that cannot be avoided.
• Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling if possible.

AVOID – ASSESS – REDUCE

These are some of the risks involved with assisting and moving individuals:

-Environment

-Competence

-Equipment

-Weight and size

-State of mind

b) HAZARD

A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm. It is important to identify any hazards during a risk assessment. Hazards involved in manual handling of individuals include: The load or individual being moved (That’s the chicken) Equipment available, its state of repair and suitability for use (Should he be wearing gloves?)Environment, available space, flooring and the weather (Plenty of space in the garden – must be summer in those short sleeves) Competence of the person doing the move (Looks like he is capable of carrying the chicken)

c) RISK ASSESSMENT

A risk assessment is a legal requirement to ensure the health, safety, welfare and security of staff, individuals and the wider community. Its purpose is to: 

-Help the individual to have their choices met in the safest
possible way

-Reduce or remove any risks

-Enable decisions, which are logical, realistic and legal

-Provide clear guidance and information on how to work
safely with individuals

A risk assessment is about identifying risks and taking sensible and proportionate measures to control them

These are the 5 steps to follow for doing a risk assessment… 

-Identify the hazards

-Decide who might be harmed and how

-Evaluate the risks and decide on
precautions

-Record your significant findings

-Review your assessment – update if
necessary

Risks can change quickly or overtime. This means risk assessment and risk management will need to be reviewed regularly.

Health and Safety Executive

Visit the Health and Safety Executive’s website (HSE) for more information about risk management: 

d) CARE PLAN

A care plan is an agreement between the individual who is being supported and the organisation who is providing the support. It helps to manage the everyday care, support and wellbeing of the individual. The care plan may involve more than one person, organisation or support mechanism, depending on the individual. 

It is usually a written document detailing what a person needs support with, when they need support and how. It is updated by the people involved in providing care and support. 

An individual’s care plan may contain the following personal
information:
 
-What an individual likes and dislikes
-Their personal goals
-Support services in place
-Who is in charge of support services
-When support will be carried out
-Emergency contacts
-Exercise plans
-An individual’s preferred method of communication

-Eating habits

Individuals are encouraged to
create their own care or support plans. The information is private and should
only be seen by the individual and the people involved in providing their care
and support. The care plan should set out how best to support an individual
during a manual handling manoeuvre or activity. This will depend on the
individual’s circumstances and needs. The care plan should explain the level of
assistance needed, any equipment to be used and any other relevant information.

e) ERGONOMIC APPROACH

An ergonomic approach looks at manual handling as a whole. It takes into account a range of relevant factors, including the nature of the task, the individual, the load, the working environment and any equipment required. The acronym TILEO is often used to help people remember what is involved.

Each of the TILEO categories may influence the others. None of them can be considered on their own. To carry out an assessment in a structured way, it is helpful to begin by breaking the operations down into separate, more manageable items. 

This is an example of the thinking behind TILEO…

A man you work with has fallen to
the floor between two chairs and cut his arm. Let’s call him Freddie. He cannot
get up…

TASK – to get Freddie up from the
floor safely.

INDIVIDUAL – the person who
found  Freddie is a slim, small framed
female. There are three other workers available to help.

LOAD – Freddie is a tall,
well-built male.

ENVIRONMENT – the environment is
well lit and the floor is carpeted.

OTHER – there is a lifting
cushion available and disposable gloves to protect the workers from the blood
coming from Freddie’s cut arm. The chairs have arm rests that Freddie can use
to help steady himself.