Case studies and research

These case studies look at manual handling in a health and social care context.

• Risk assessment and process planning for bariatric patient handling pathways (RR573)
  The obese population in the UK is growing and this group are considerably over-represented in their use of health and social care services. This project aimed to identify and explore the manual handling risks and process planning for bariatric patients.
• Mobile patient hoists in hospitals
  A newly built hospital had received reports from the nurses that the carpets made the mobile patient hoist far too difficult to manoeuvre. This case study explores the solutions proposed to reduce the risk when moving the hoist.
• The ambulance service
  Ambulance crews sustain very high levels of reported handling injuries or disorders, particularly from patient retrieval and moving/handling.
• Electric profiling beds in hospitals: Case studies
  Electric profiling beds can reduce risks from manual handling as well as having other benefits. These case studies show how they benefit health and social care services
• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in podiatry and chiropody professionals (RR647)
  Podiatrists have an above average incidence of MSDs. The main objective of this project was to introduce some portable equipment for podiatrists to use on domiciliary visits and highlight any improvements that the equipment has on their working postures.