Complete Guide to Manual Handling in Disability Services
Table of Contents
Manual handling in disability services refers to the process of safely moving, lifting, or supporting people with disabilities, ensuring their comfort and safety while preventing injury to both the person being assisted and the support worker. Manual handling is a common activity in daily life, ranging from carrying groceries to performing tasks in the workplace. It is also a leading cause of injury within the support service sector. These injuries, in their most severe form, can result in chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
In this article, we will present valuable resources that will provide insights into manual handling practices and introduce safety measures that can help reduce the negative outcomes associated with manual handling and prevent potential injuries.
If you’re looking to enhance your understanding of safe manual handling in disability services or seeking to specialise in disability support, taking proactive steps towards education is crucial. Empower yourself and protect others by enrolling in our comprehensive Manual Handling Training course, or expand your expertise with our Disability Support Course at Skills Training College. Begin your journey today towards a safer work environment and a more rewarding career path.
The Definition of Manual Handling in Disability Services
We may define manual handling as any task that requires physical effort to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain objects. Activities such as stocking shelves, painting, gardening, cleaning, and desk-related tasks like writing and typing are all considered forms of manual handling. Strains and sprains are common injuries resulting from these activities.
Potential Risks
Individuals who engage in manual handling in disability services are at risk of sustaining injuries, particularly to the back, neck, and shoulders. These manual handling injuries often occur when a person is bending, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, or when they apply force unexpectedly or excessively.
Injury Prevention Measures
Authorities acknowledge that while not all manual handling tasks are inherently dangerous, the prevalence of manual handling in most jobs means that a significant number of workers are at risk. Adopting proper posture and lifting techniques can mitigate some of these risks. Additionally, research suggests that modifying the design of the workplace is one of the most effective strategies for preventing injuries related to manual handling.
Common Injuries in the Disability Services Sector
Worksafe Victoria’s Disability Services Occupational Health and Safety Compliance Kit reveals that manual handling is a primary source of hazard in the disability sector, with four out of the six most prevalent hazards being associated with this work. These hazards include:
- Physically transferring and aiding individuals with disabilities
- Providing personal hygiene support
- Helping individuals who use wheelchairs
- Managing the movement of wheelchairs into and out of vehicles
This article summarises key points from the Worksafe Victoria Disability Services Occupational Health and Safety Compliance Kit. It serves as a reference for disability service providers to develop their practices. Providers are encouraged to conduct a risk assessment tailored to their specific circumstances to devise strategies that are most appropriate for their setting.
What are the best practices for manual handling in disability services?
Each service provider needs to conduct a risk evaluation tailored to their unique situation to identify and implement the most fitting solutions.
Nonetheless, here are several general recommendations that can help lessen the risks associated with manual handling.
For Moving and Supporting Activities
In aiding individuals with disabilities, if minimal physical support is needed, workers can use various tools. These include hand and grab rails, electrically adjustable chairs, chairs specifically designed for support, leg lifters, beds with special features and dining chairs with locking wheels. They can also use mobility aids like frames or canes.
For individuals who can offer some level of assistance, additional devices can be employed to further protect workers from injury. This includes electric adjustable beds, hoists for supporting individuals in a standing position, and devices for moving individuals over short distances like sling hoists. Other tools like sliding sheets, boards, height-adjustable tables, devices to help put on socks and stockings and ergonomic chairs for workers, are also advised.
In cases where an individual requires comprehensive support, it is important to have equipment like overhead hoists to transfer them safely from one place to another, whether from a bed, chair, or wheelchair. It is crucial to ensure that all equipment and aids are appropriate for their intended use, easy to manoeuvre, and kept in good working condition.
Assistance with Personal Hygiene:
System:
It is important to recognise potential dangers and manage the risks linked with bathing, using the toilet, or showering individuals with disabilities. This includes considering the extent of assistance required by the person. A personalised evaluation should be performed to determine the physical support necessities of the client, which encompasses the required equipment and assistance devices.
Equipment/Aid Provision and Usage
The equipment or aids intended to help a person with disabilities in carrying out personal hygiene activities must be evaluated to ensure they are appropriate for the intended task and fit the allocated space. This may include items like hoists or specialised shower chairs.
These aids should be accessible, straightforward to retrieve from storage, simple to set up, and provided or installed before the initiation of service. Maintaining these items in excellent condition and ensuring they meet the specific needs of the person with the disability is essential for the safety of both the worker and the client.
Assistance for Wheelchair Users
Equipment:
Workers must be part of the process when assessing and choosing wheelchairs. This includes taking into account the user’s needs, safety considerations for the working environment, the contexts in which the wheelchair will be used, and how easy it is to operate for both the user and the workers.
This also includes the necessity for attendant controls on motorised wheelchairs. Regular checks and maintenance of wheelchairs are necessary, such as monitoring tyre pressure, brake functionality, control systems, structural integrity, charging mechanisms, and battery life. For wheelchairs that belong to clients, these checks should be a stipulated part of the service contract.
Task:
Protocols should be established to determine the safest methods for moving the wheelchair and its occupant. Workers need to be trained in handling wheelchairs, which includes navigating curbs, managing slopes, dealing with small ramps, and executing turns. Hands-on, accredited training should be provided in various community settings such as cafes, train stations, and movie theaters, utilising guidance from the wheelchair’s manufacturer or provider when possible.
Environment:
Evaluate floor surfaces to ensure they allow for smooth wheelchair movement, and make modifications to the flooring if necessary to decrease friction. Ensure there’s enough room for maneuvering, which includes having doorways of adequate width.
Set up a system to be informed of any changes in the home or environment that affect accessibility, like the installation or removal of ramps or home alterations. Before participating in community events, conduct an assessment of the location’s accessibility. It’s advisable to steer clear of sandy, loosely packed, or uneven paths.
What are the legal requirements for manual handling training in disability services?
While manual handling training is not mandatory for all staff, it is a crucial aspect of ensuring the safety of both the support workers and the individuals with disabilities they assist. The general regulations and standards for WHS typically include the need for support workers to be trained in safe manual handling techniques.
The training should cover aspects such as risk management, good posture, and proper lifting techniques.
Summing Up
Injuries often occur when we neglect safety in the rush to complete tasks quickly. It’s important to pause and assess risks before proceeding with any activity to preempt potential issues and manage associated risks effectively.
For those managing a service or owning a business, prioritising both the training and the auditing of manual handling tasks is crucial.
Conducting regular audits and closely monitoring tasks can pinpoint areas for improvement, allowing for the development of action plans to address any deficiencies. Elevating staff awareness through ongoing training, leveraging superior tools and solutions, and performing systematic audits to check adherence are all critical actions. These practices are key to managing manual handling effectively, thereby averting injuries and enhancing the quality of life for your team.
