Kate Sheehan Director, The OT Service
The OT Service provides high quality advice, consultancy and training to manufacturers, retailers and service providers. It also provides occupational therapy clinical services in housing and equipment to case managers, solicitors and private individuals via its handpicked network of occupational therapists. For more info email kate@theotservice.co.uk
MOVING AND
HANDLING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES A
s occupational therapists, we are often involved in manual handling, assessments, plans and training. Making sure that we are meeting the needs and goals of the client and carer in the most dignified and safe way possible. We are all aware of our legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 and Manual Handling Operations Regulations, 1992 (as amended) to mention just two key pieces we work within. However, recently I have had to reflect on our wider role and how we need to think beyond the usual avoid, assess, reduce, and review approach, to think are we doing enough to support our clients who employ carers? I have a client who employs a carer, and both have completed a twohour online moving and handling course, which states it covers 15 specific points. This equates to eight minutes per subject, and these topics included the following: 1 An introduction to the key principles of moving and handling 2 An overview of why ergonomic moving and handling is important to an individual 3 What the law states about moving and handling 4 The key principles of safer moving and handling of people. We, therefore, should be aware of the limited amount of information that
can and is being given in a two-hour training session and the fact that none of the topic areas are going to be covered in any depth, that is where we as occupational therapists come in and can provide a more bespoke and personalised approach and understanding of the subject. Going back to my client, on discussion she had limited understanding of her role and responsibility as an employer and using the HSE website as a resource, I was able to go over her requirements: 1 Recognition of the risks 2 Commitment to introducing precautions to reduce that risk 3 A statement of clear roles and responsibilities 4 An explanation of what is expected from individual employees 5 Arrangements for training and providing and maintaining equipment 6 Arrangements for monitoring compliance 7 A commitment to supporting people who have been injured in connection with their work. Employers must then reduce the risk of injury to staff and people using care services by: 1 Avoiding those manual handling tasks that could result in injury, where reasonably practicable 2 Assessing the risks from moving
and handling that cannot be avoided 3 Putting measures in place to reduce the risk, where reasonably practicable. In addition, they should have had an assessment identifying needs and risks, have a clear manual handling plan explaining how each task or move should be completed safely, have an annual review date identified and a policy that indicates a review is required sooner than a year if there is a significant change in the client’s needs. We should also advise our clients to have the appropriate liability insurance in place and have a service agreement for equipment to be checked, maintained and LOLER regulations adhered to. Her carer had also not picked up that she had responsibilities herself, which are clearly laid out on the HSE website as follows: Employees also have responsibilities and need to: 1 Follow appropriate systems of work and use the equipment provided 2 Co-operate with their employer and let them know of any problems, this includes checking equipment before using it to make sure it is fit for use 3 Take reasonable care to ensure that their actions or inaction do not put themselves or others at risk. It is critical as occupational therapists that we clearly explain the legal duties of an employer and assist our clients and carers to provide a safe environment for all, this will achieve the best outcomes for everyone, reducing risks and providing the person being moved with as much dignity, choice and control as we can achieve. -magazine.co.uk
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