Safe Manual Handling Practice
Safe Manual Handling Practice:
PLAN
PREPARE
POSITION
PERFORM
PRACTICE
By following these 5 steps you will develop a safe approach to all manual handling activities.
PLAN
Undertake a task analysis i.e. assess the situation
Decide what must be done
Decide how it will be done
PREPARE
The working environment
The service user / load
The equipment
The handlers
POSITION
Adopt a good posture
Keep close to the load
Decide the hold to be used
Take an appropriate hold of the load
Decide what equipment is to be used
PERFORM
Inform the client what you are going to do, agree unambiguous commands
Prepare the client for the move
Position the client for the move
Agree a leader for the lift / work together as a team
PRACTICE
Evaluate your manual handling performance:
What did I do well and safely?
What did I do to put the activity at risk?
How do I improve my performance and develop my skills?