Manual Handling Procedure

Transcription

1 Manual Handling Procedure Policy Ref: C8-12 Author: Director of Organisational Development and Communication Consultation Process: Last Review: Board, SMT, Staff February 2014 Distribution: Next Review: Policy and Procedure Manual February 2017 Change Record Version Nature of change: Issue Date Ratified No: Date: Ratified: By: 1 First Issue Jan 10 Dec 09 CEO 2 Reviewed against regulation and best practice to simplify. Change of author Feb 2014 Feb 2014 CEO Approved by CEO Page 1 of 7

2 Manual Handling Procedure Scope This document sets out the arrangements in place within Triangle to ensure that all reasonable steps to reduce health and safety risks to employees from manual handling. All practice is guided by the following regulations: Manual Handling Operations Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992, Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Manual handling is any activity which involves the movement of objects or people in the following ways: Pushing Pulling Lifting Carrying or Putting down Responsibilities Directors are responsible for final decisions regarding the risk management plan to support manual handling activities, Heads and line managers are responsible for the implementation and monitoring of this procedure and associated assessments; staff are responsible for adhering to it and completing appropriate records. Triangle has an identified manual handling advisor who is trained as an accredited manual handling assessor and trainer. This person will advise managers and provide direct in-house support and training regarding identified manual handling tasks. General Principles The Regulations require employers to: avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable; assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can t be avoided; and reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable. Employees have duties too. They should: follow appropriate systems of work laid down for their safety; make proper use of equipment provided for their safety; co-operate with their employer on health and safety matters; inform the employer if they identify hazardous handling activities; take care to ensure that their activities do not put others at risk. Approved by CEO Page 2 of 7

3 Procedure Prerequisites 1. All grades of staff will be appropriately trained in their responsibilities regarding manual handling during their induction 2. On completion of probation, all managers will train to complete the IOSH Managing Health and Safety Certificate 3. All staff will be responsible for alerting their manager to any personal health issues that will limit their ability in regular manual handling tasks associated with their job role. Where required, the responsible manager will consult with the HR department regarding the need for referral to the Occupational Health Doctor for assessment advice regarding the staff member Assessment and risk management 1. All managers will make themselves aware of any job tasks that require staff to use manual handling actions as identified above (see scope) 2. Where such task activities require risk assessment i.e. where there is still residual risk, managers will work with the affected staff member/s to assess the activity using the HSE guidance for manual handling assessment provided as appendix 1 and the organisational risk assessment documents C8-1-2 & C The risk assessment and management plan to support the movement of people will be recorded on the document SS Where the assessment and plan require the provision of equipment or referral to another agency (in the case of supporting people to move??), the manager will complete the appropriate procurement requirements, or the appropriate referral to external agencies procedures. 5. Where a residual risk remains that is considered to be HIGH RISK, managers will alert their Director and await a decision regarding what action to take. The Risk Assessment outcome should be forwarded to HR for inclusion on the Health and Safety Exceptions database. 6. When the manager has developed the manual handling risk management plan, they will ensure that all involved staff are appropriately trained and assessed for competency 7. The plan will be reviewed either after 6 months or as the task requirement or service user need changes. Any changes to the plan will be recorded on the plan. Any major changes will need the plan to be rewritten. The manager will ensure that changes are communicated to all involved staff, and retraining is organised if required 8. Staff will be instructed in the TILE system of risk assessment provided as appendix 2 and encouraged to use this system each time before they carry-out a task involving manual handling. This will enable them to check for risks and report their findings to the manager. 9. Staff must refer to any written manual handling plans and familiarise themselves before being involved in the task 10. Any near misses or accidents involving manual handling must be recorded in the accident book and reported to the manager instantly 11. Any investigation of manual handling accidents causing harm or danger must involve the Triangle in-house manual handling advisor Approved by CEO Page 3 of 7

4 Equipment 1. The manager will ensure that any equipment used to assist manual handling is delegated for regular checking, and will monitor that this is happening 2. Any lifting equipment will be on a maintenance contract/schedule with an approved person/provider. The manager is responsible for ensuring that this happens at the recommended intervals as prescribed by the manufacturer. 3. Staff must not tamper with any lifting/manual handling equipment and must report any faults immediately Related Form Index This procedure has the following associated forms: Form HSW Risk assessment parts Be Safe Manual Handling Plan Index C C8-1-3 SS Guide to assessing manual handling activity risks Appendix 1 The TILE risk assessment system Appendix 2 Reference Documents This procedure is influenced by the following procedures: C8-1 Workplace Risk Assessment Procedure C8-2 Staff Risk Assessment Procedure C8-4 Working at Height Procedure C8-9 accidents at Work Procedure C8-13 Work Equipment Procedure SS3-2 Assessment of Need Procedure SS3-5 intimate Care and Support Procedure SS3-6 Referral to Health and Social Care Professionals H2-4 Adaptations Procedure (These refer to related documents which are external in origin and/or outside ISO.) HSE publication. Getting to grips with manual handling. A short guide Approved by CEO Page 4 of 7

5 Appendix 1 Problems to look for when making an assessment The tasks, do they involve: holding loads away from the body? twisting, stooping or reaching upwards? large vertical movement? long carrying distances? strenuous pushing or pulling? repetitive handling? insufficient rest or recovery time? a work rate imposed by a process? muscles to rest while another is used? push rather than pull? The loads, are they: heavy, bulky or unwieldy? difficult to grasp? unstable or likely to move unpredictably (like animals)? harmful, eg sharp or hot? awkwardly stacked? too large for the handler to see over? smaller packages? The working environment, are there: constraints on posture? bumpy, obstructed or slippery floors? variations in levels? hot/cold/humid conditions? gusts of wind or other strong air movements? poor lighting conditions? restrictions on movements or posture from clothes or personal protective equipment (PPE)? Ways of reducing the risk of injury use a lifting aid? improve workplace layout to improve efficiency? reduce the amount of twisting and stooping? avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height, especially heavy loads? reduce carrying distances? avoid repetitive handling? vary the work, allowing one set of Can you make the load: lighter or less bulky? easier to grasp? more stable? less damaging to hold? If the load comes in from elsewhere, have you asked the supplier to help, eg provide handles or remove obstructions to free movement? provide better flooring? avoid steps and steep ramps? prevent extremes of hot and cold? improve lighting? provide protective clothing or PPE that is less restrictive? ensure your employees clothing and footwear is suitable for their work? Approved by CEO Page 5 of 7

6 Problems to look for when making an assessment Individual capacity, does the job: require unusual capability, eg above-average strength or agility? endanger those with a health problem or learning/physical disability? endanger pregnant women? call for special information or training? Get advice from an occupational health advisor if you need to. Handling aids and equipment: is the device the correct type for the job? is it well maintained? are the wheels on the device suited to the floor surface? do the wheels run freely? is the handle height between the waist and shoulders? are the handle grips in good order and comfortable? are there any brakes? If so, do they work? Work organisation factors: is the work repetitive or boring? is work machine or system-paced? do workers feel the demands of the work are excessive? have workers little control of the work and working methods? is there poor communication between managers and employees? Ways of reducing the risk of injury pay particular attention to those who have a physical weakness? take extra care of pregnant workers? give your employees more information, eg about the range of tasks they are likely to face? provide more training (see What about training? ) provide equipment that is more suitable for the task? carry out planned preventive maintenance to prevent problems? change the wheels, tyres and/or flooring so that equipment moves easily? provide better handles and handle grips? make the brakes easier to use, reliable and effective? change tasks to reduce the monotony? make more use of workers skills? make workloads and deadlines more achievable? encourage good communication and teamwork? involve workers in decisions? provide better training and information? Approved by CEO Page 6 of 7

7 Appendix 2 The task The individuals The load The environment Does the task involve any of the following: Bending Twisting Stretching Stooping Pushing Pulling Lifting Carrying Putting down Long distance Team work Single operator Seated work Sudden movement Require equipment that is not available or is faulty Is the individual/are the individual who are assigned to the task: Trained Pregnant Have a physical disability Have a sensory disability Currently healthy Taking sedative medication Inappropriately dressed for the task Without required PPE Is the load involved: Unpredictable Heavy Difficult to grip Sharp Hot Cold Likely to move Need extra care In the environment where the task will take place as/are there: Space problems Uneven floors Slippery floors Differing floor levels Differing floor surfaces High/low working surfaces Doors or obstacles to negotiate Sound or human distractions Traffic or machinery to negotiate Extreme hot/cold/hu mid conditions Approved by CEO Page 7 of 7