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To: Health and Safety Enforcing Authorities

For the attention of: Local Authority Health and Safety Enforcement Managers, Health and Safety Regulators and others

This Local Authority Circular (LAC) provides technical guidance to Health and Safety Inspectors and others on health and safety issues associated with manual handling in care homes.

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Manual handling in care homes interactive training CD

Introduction

This LAC introduces the Manual Handling in Care Homes Interactive CD. The CD contains information and advice for Health and Safety Inspectors to undertake a detailed assessment of a care home’s risk management system, for manual handling activities. A mixture of video clips, pictures, information sheets and text provide guidance on:-

• The risks associated with the moving and handling of people.
• The different levels of mobility and functionality of residents and how this affects environment, equipment and techniques used.
• The variety of equipment found in a care home and how it should be used.
• The key components of a risk management system.
• Where to find further information.

The CD also contains several checklists which can be used to help Health and Safety Inspectors assess the adequacy of the care home’s risk management system.

Please note: The CD should not be provided to duty holders because it has been produced as an inspection training tool for Health and Safety Inspectors. A duty holder version of the CD is planned and will be a priced publication available from HSE books.

Background

The development of the CD was funded through the LA Science and Technology Funding Initiative, following a successful bid from Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council. The CD was produced by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL, an agency of the HSE) in association with the Health and Social Care Services Unit (HSE), Wakefield LA and WorkSafe (manual handling and ergonomic consultants). The CD is suitable for use by all regulatory inspectors of care homes.

Nature of the problem

The provisional figures for period 2006/07 indicate that care homes reported approximately 4400 accidents in accordance with the requirements of Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). Manual handling accidents were the most prevalent injuries accounting for 34% of the total accidents reported. Handling injuries predominantly resulted from activities involving direct resident handling (21%) but also from the handling of inanimate objects and equipment (13%).

Main objectives

The purpose of the CD is to provide Health and Safety Inspectors with:

(a) Key information and guidance, so that a detailed inspection of the care homes compliance with the Manual Handling at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) and other associated legislation can be undertaken, including the assessment of:

• The manual handling policy and risk assessment.
• The knowledge and commitment of the senior managers.
• Availability and appropriateness of manual handling equipment.
• The use of manual handling equipment.
• The environment where handling equipment is used.
• The maintenance of manual handling equipment.
• The training and supervision of staff.

(b) The information they require to identify and recognise poor manual handling management systems and practice.

CD distribution

An initial distribution of CDs late May 2008 will be as follows:-

• To all Local Authorities (via HSE Partnership Managers).
• To all Local Authorities in Northern Ireland.
• To other regulators such as the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI – England only), Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW – Wales only) and the Scottish Care Commission (Scotland only).
• To all HSE Inspectors who visit care homes (including Northern Ireland).
• To all HSE Occupational Health Inspectors.
• To the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate (HSWI) Isle of Man.
• To HSE Guernsey.
• To all HSE Ergonomics specialists.

Further copies of the CD can be obtained direct from Mark White at HSL (mark.white@hsl.gov.uk)

Other sources of guidance

• Manual handling in the health services HSE Books 1998 - ISBN 0 7176 12481
• The guide to the handling of people (5th Edition) ISBN 0-9530582-9-8
• Safer handling of people in the community ISBN 0-9530582-7-1
• Getting to grips with handling problems HSE Books 1993 – ISBN 0 7176 06228
• Handling home care HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 22282
• Manual handling guidance on regulations HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 2823X
• All Wales manual handling passport training and information scheme
• RCN code of practice for patient handling

• SIM 07/2008/4

Feedback

Enquires should be sent to - publicservicessector@hse.gsi.gov.uk In addition the Health and Social Care Services Unit at HSE, would welcome feedback about any areas of good practice found, or health and safety issues which may have a national significance.

Date first issued: May 2008