Do you promote a work environment where the health and wellbeing of you and your clients is not compromised by lifting or manual handling?

Prepared by: Nick Heywood-Smith & Michael Peachey

Improving your understanding of manual handling and the correct use of manual handling techniques to minimise risk of injury to you and your patients.

Do you find that the way you are performing manual handling tasks could put you or your patients at risk of injury?  Did you realise that the health care industry is considered one of the most ‘high risk’ industries for work related injuries?  Why?

• There are many manual handling activities involved in the work (both for people moving and moving of materials).
• There are often multiple trips and falls of patients within health care settings.
• There are often resistive patients that increase the risk of injury.

By continuously educating yourself, you cannot only reduce the risk to your patients, you can also reduce the incidence of injury and hence WorkCover claims.

What this e-book can do for you!

• Show you the correct and safest techniques to manually move people and materials.
• Improve your understanding of your responsibilities within the work place.
• Ensure that you know how to correctly provide manual handling techniques to improve safety and reduce the risk of injury.
• Gain a better understanding of human anatomy and the effect different postures can have on your body.

Included in this e-book is:

• Manual handling policy
• Employer and employee responsibilities
• Hazard identification, risk assessment and control
• Anatomy and biomechanics
• Methods of manual handling
• General principles
• Key factors
• Fundamental movements and positions
• Manual handling of materials
• Manual handling procedures for clients
• Use of mobility aids
• Management of a patient who has fallen

Who should use this e-book?

You should go through this e-book during the staff member’s induction into your health care facility or as a ‘refresher’ during the year if you have manual handling queries.

Management should also use this book to remind themselves of their responsibilities within the work place, the basic anatomy of your body and how it works during movement and the stresses and strains that can occur during different postures and lifting techniques.  Most importantly, all people working in a health care environment (including ancillary staff – kitchen, laundry and maintenance staff) should use this e-book to educate themselves on the current correct techniques for safe manual handling.

Some of the sites we’ve provided training to and have provided access to this e-book have significantly reduced their work related injuries and WorkCover expenses. Staff feel more confident about their abilities and this in turn reduces the risk to the patients.

We realise that by just reading this book you are not going to be proficient in manual handling.  Practical training by a specialist physiotherapist or occupational therapist is always recommended. Wellness & Lifestyles Australia can provide you with these therapists if needed.  The book should only be used as a resource document following some interactive training. E-learning modules by W&L are also available.

This e-book is set out in a progressive format where manual handling techniques and strategies build upon previous information are left to the end.  It’s important for you have an understanding of the basics and how to do the techniques too because we’ve found that RNs, ENs, ancillary staff and nurses performing the manual handling tasks are all at risk of injuring themselves or others.

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