We recently published a mandatory course called Manual handling and safe lifting on our Moodle learning platform.
It was developed in partnership with our sister company JSA Psychotherapy Limited.
Each of our homes present different challenges and risks for those who work in them.
Although a residential family centre such as Pennine View presents more obvious risks associated with lifting and carrying babies and young children, and the associated equipment, our other homes have risks of their own.
It is important for our therapeutic caregivers and their management team, to understand the risks to their backs and general wellbeing related to manual handling and lifting while at work.
And just as important, to be aware of the recommended techniques for safe lifting and manual handling, to help reduce the likelihood and impact of an injury.
The most common types of manual handling injuries are:
- Over-Exertion: This is when the load is beyond the individual’s capability in the circumstances.
- Cumulative Damage: From repetitive lifting, static work procedures, etc.
- Accidental Injury: For example, from loads trapping fingers or falling on feet.
The most common injuries include:
- Traumatised, bruised, or inflamed muscles (which may go into spasm)
- Damaged ligaments
- Misalignment of tiny vertebral joints
- Damage to the discs between the vertebrae
In addition to the inevitable pain, those affected will possibly require time off work and be limited in their social activities.
The most common lifting problems are:
- Lifting with back bent and legs straight. The solution is to keep your back straight and bend the knees.
- Holding the load too far from the body. The solution is to hold the load as close to your body as possible.
- Twisting whilst lifting. The solution is to redesign the lift to avoid twisting – turn your body using your feet.
- Losing balance during a lift. Solutions include:
- Keep a wide and balanced stance with your feet generally shoulder-width apart or wider.
- Test the load before you lift – If the load is uneven then redistribute the load.
- Use the tripod lift.
- If the load is too heavy, find another person to help you or use a mechanical lifting aid.
If you’re lifting, remember to:
- Stop and think
- Position the feet
- Adopt a good posture
- Get a firm grip
- Keep close to the load
- Don’t jerk
- Move the feet
- Put down, then adjust
And finally. Do not assume that poor lifting is your main concern.
Back pain can be caused by a number of things. In particular poor posture.
Therapeutic caregivers and management teams have to spend a significant amount of time carrying out administration and documentation. E.g. completing daily records and weekly chronologies. It is important that we maintain a good posture when seated at a desk to use the computer.
We plan to run a workshop in the future where we can demonstrate and photograph examples of safe lifting to incorporate into more learning resources.
