Safe moving and handling are part of everyday life in care homes and healthcare settings, but it also carries significant risk if not carried out correctly. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR) were introduced to protect staff and patients by reducing the dangers associated with lifting, carrying, and repositioning people. For care providers, understanding these regulations isn’t optional; it’s a legal requirement.
The regulations set out three key principles:
- Avoid hazardous manual handling wherever possible — for example, using equipment such as hoists and slide sheets instead of lifting manually.
- Assess unavoidable risks — considering the individual’s mobility, the environment, and the task involved.
- Reduce the risk of injury — by providing the right equipment, training, and staffing support.
Manual Handling at Work
Failure to follow these steps can have serious consequences. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), musculoskeletal disorders from poor moving and handling remain one of the leading causes of workplace injury in health and social care, accounting for thousands of staff sickness absences each year. Not only does this affect staffing levels, but it also puts service users at risk of falls, discomfort, or loss of dignity when unsafe techniques are used.
Training Your Staff About Safe Moving
In practice, compliance with MHOR means ensuring staff know how to:
- Safely use a patient hoist.
- Apply and remove a sling correctly.
- Make use of slide sheets to reposition a person without strain.
- Roll or turn a patient with minimal risk to themselves or the resident.
CQC inspectors increasingly look at how providers protect staff and service users, and manual handling training is a key area of scrutiny. By booking accredited training, care providers can demonstrate compliance with the regulations, safeguard their workforce, and provide safer, more dignified care.
Formal Risk Assessments
A crucial but often overlooked requirement under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations is the need for formal risk assessments—both generic (covering site-wide moving and handling routines) and individual (tailored to the needs of each resident or patient). These assessments help care providers identify environmental hazards, staffing or equipment gaps, and the specific needs of individual service users. The Royal College of Nursing underscores the importance of reviewing both types and keeping them updated as residents’ mobility or conditions change. This practice not only reduces risk but also supports more dignified and person-centred care.
Book your Safe Moving and Positioning of People Training
At Specialised Training UK, our Safe Moving and Positioning of People course ensures your staff have the confidence and skills to meet legal requirements while protecting both themselves and those they care for.
To find out how we can support your training needs, contact our team today and let us help you provide the highest standard of care.
01372 231 011 / 07787 504 622
info@specialisedtraininguk.com
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