HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team
Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 1 of 9
MANUAL HANDLING OF PEOPLE
COMPLIANCE NOTE
INTRODUCTION
This document provides guidance to minimise the risks associated with moving people
(children and adults).
CONTENTS
Section
Topic
Page
1
Safety Management System Arrangements
2
2
Definitions
3
3
Decision hierarchy
3
4
Risk assessment
5
Training
4
6
6
Equipment
7
7
Emergency situations
8
8
Reporting of incidents
8
9
Monitoring
9
10
Further information
9
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team
Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 2 of 9
SECTION 1: SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SMS) ARRANGEMENTS
Policy & objectives
To reduce the risk of manual handling injuries associated with moving people by ensuring these
risks are assessed and adequately controlled. The guiding principle is based on an approach of
minimal people handling.
Scope
The arrangement applies to any manual handling operations involving people:
 Undertaken by CYC, or
 In the specific case of partnerships and agencies, under the control of CYC, or
 Involving CYC employees
This compliance note gives overarching principles to ensure the safe manual handling of
people – service areas will also have their own specific local arrangements on how to
implement these.
For manual handling of children in schools and Early Years settings, the Special
Educational Needs Specialist Teaching Team are the primary contact.
For Manual Handling of Objects see compliance note CYC/HS/CN5A.
Specific requirements
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All activities involving the manual handling of people that have significant hazards
use the “avoid, assess, reduce” decision hierarchy
For activities where manual handling cannot be avoided – risk assessments are
carried out by managers trained in moving and handling techniques (with advice
from medical professionals where required) – in consultation with an employee from
the area where the activity is based
The findings of the risk assessment are communicated to all those who may be
affected by the activity
Residual risks with a risk rating of 20 or greater are passed to the Health & Safety
Team for entry onto the CYC H&S Risk Register
The risk assessment should be person-centred, and reviewed annually or where a
need is identified eg change of activity/equipment, guidance or following an
incident/near miss
Employees carrying out or assessing manual handling of people receive training
(including refreshers) appropriate to the task, and they are deemed competent
Any equipment to assist in the manual handling of people is appropriately selected,
maintained and inspected to ensure suitability – and those using it receive adequate
training
Managers regularly monitor activities to ensure that staff are working safely
following guidance and training
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team



Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 3 of 9
All employees and prospective employees are physically fit enough to safely carry
out manual handling of people activities
In the event of a manual handling injury, staff are supported by CYC following the
incident
All manual handling injuries or near misses are reported using a CYC Incident
Report Form and investigated appropriately
SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS
Manual handling operations – any transporting or supporting of a load (including the
lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force
Examples of manual handling of people (not an exhaustive list):
 Assisting with clothing
 Emergency situations
 Feeding
 Guiding people in/out of vehicles
 Helping children off the floor
 Lifting babies / toddlers
 Mobility
 PE activities
 Personal care
 Swimming / hydrotherapy
SECTION 3: DECISION HIERARCHY
Manual handling activities that have a risk of injury must follow the decision hierarchy of
“Avoid, Assess, Reduce”:
Avoid
Can you avoid the need for manual handling so far as is reasonably practicable:
 Do you need to move the person – can they get up or move themselves?
 Can the activity be carried out in a different way eg where the person already is
 Can mechanical aids be used eg use of grab rail or hoist to reduce the risks?
Assess
All activities involving the manual handling of people that have significant hazards must
have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment carried out by a competent person – based
on the need to avoid manually handling people where possible. The risk assessment must
fully consider the factors of Task, Individual, Load, Environment and Equipment (TILEE) –
see Section 4.
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team
Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 4 of 9
Before an appropriate manual handling method can be applied safely and successfully it
must be planned and prepared in the current context of the task to ensure safety and
efficiency.
Reduce
Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably
practicable, by ensuring that effective and proportionate control measures are in place so
the activity can be carried out safely (see Section 4). These control measures must be
clearly documented (via workplace instructions and/or care plan) and training given to all
those involved.
It is likely that the handling activity will be repeated – therefore it is important to evaluate
how successful it was so that any improvements, however minor, can be rectified prior to
the task being repeated.
SECTION 4: RISK ASSESSMENT
CYC are aware that the manual handling of people (adults and children) is necessary for
the safe delivery of care – but this also has the potential to cause injury to those being
handled, the handler and others. A suitable and sufficient risk assessment for activities that
are unavoidable must be carried out by a competent person (appropriately trained in the
moving and handling of people) and produce adequate control measures to reduce the
potential for injury.
Manual handling risk assessments should be task-specific and person-centred and allow
the person being handled to feedback on the task. Practice should not place unreasonable
restrictions on an individual’s rights to autonomy, privacy or dignity.
Risk assessments must be reviewed at least annually, plus following any incident/near
miss, or following any changes in practice (eg new equipment) or changes in the
individuals’ circumstances.
Staff must read and follow the findings of the risk assessments (workplace
instructions/care plans) and use any equipment provided. They must also inform their
manager of any problems with the systems of work or equipment, and take reasonable
care that their actions do not put themselves or others at risk.
Two types of risk assessment will be required to ensure the safety of people being moved
and the staff who are moving them:
Generic risk assessments – consider the overall needs of the setting (use CYC Risk
Assessment form F3):
 Type and frequency of moving and handling tasks
 Overall equipment needs
 Staffing
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team
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Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 5 of 9
Environment
What moving and handling would be required in emergencies such as fire
evacuations or residents’ falls
Individual risk assessments – consider the specific moving and handling needs of the
person being moved – this may be recorded in a personal care plan or risk assessment
(CYC form F3) – issues to consider:
 What they are able to do independently
 Extent to which the individual can participate in/co-operate with transfers
 Extent of the individual’s ability to support their own weight and any other relevant
factors eg pain, disability, spasm, fatigue, tissue viability or tendency to fall
 Does communication present a risk
 Does understanding present a risk
 Does behaviour present a risk
 Are there other medical considerations
 Do clothing, equipment or appliances present a risk
 Is the frequency of handling a risk
 Are there sufficient rest/recovery periods for all involved
 Are there any risks around staff capability
 Whether the individual needs assistance to reposition themselves/sit up when in
their bed/chair and how this will be achieved, eg provision of an electric profiling bed
 Specific equipment needed – including bariatric where necessary – and, if
applicable, type of bed, bath and chair, as well as specific handling equipment, type
of hoist and sling; sling size and attachments
 Assistance needed for different types of transfer, including the number of staff
needed
 Time of day – eg any variances for night time moving and handling
 Location – eg in a premises, outdoors etc
 Arrangements for reducing the risk and for dealing with falls, if the individual is at
risk
 Sharing risk assessments with other agencies involved in the individual’s care
where appropriate
Key factors to consider when carrying out risk assessments for staff who are manual
handling people include:
Task
 Frequency of the activity
 Type of work being carried out
Individual capability (of person carrying out the activity)
 Age
 Clothing / footwear
 Fitness
 Health
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team


Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 6 of 9
Injury
Pregnancy – when staff have informed their manager that they are pregnant, a
separate risk assessment must be carried out (see New & Expectant Mothers
compliance note CYC/HS/CN11)
Load (person to be moved)
 Disability
 Mental capacity to understand/follow instructions or feedback
 Previous history
 Size / weight
 Strength
 Tendency to be violent or unpredictable behaviour
Environment
 Uneven, obstructed or slippery floors
 Constraints on posture eg space, clothing
 Hot, cold, humid, noisy or windy conditions
 Lighting
 Variations in levels eg slopes and steps
Equipment
 Good working condition – maintained and inspected
 Staff trained to use specific item(s)
 Suitable for use for that individual (including accessories eg slings)
In addition to the documented risk assessment, if circumstances change then individuals
may need to carry out a dynamic (on the spot) risk assessment based on their knowledge,
training and ability.
SECTION 5: TRAINING
Staff must not assess manual handling activities or move people unless they have
received adequate training and are deemed competent to do so.
Training is an important factor in reducing the risks associated with manual handling
activities – but should not be regarded solely as a substitute for a workplace instruction.
Training courses should:
 Be suitable for the individual, tasks and environment involved
 Use relevant examples and last long enough to cover all the relevant information eg
include advice on:
o Legislation and guidance
o Importance of safe load management
o Spinal mechanics/function and musculoskeletal injuries
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team
Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 7 of 9
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Importance of good back care/posture
Manual handling risk factors and how injuries can occur
Ergonomic approach to risk assessment (for assessors)
Understanding disability
Assessing client handling needs
Dignity and independence of the individual being handled
How to carry out safe manual handling, including good handling technique
Appropriate systems of work for the individual's task and environment
High risk handling techniques
Use of mechanical / equipment aids
Emergency situations (eg falling/fallen person, evacuation)
Practical work to allow the trainer to identify and advise on anything the
attendee is not doing safely
Suitable checks should be made to ensure that attendees have understood the
information given to them and have reached an adequate level of competence
CYC must ensure that they:
 Keep sufficient records to show who has been trained, when the training was
carried out and what the content of the course was
 Establish a planned training programme to ensure all staff (including new starters)
receive training, with refresher updates every 18 months
Contact CYC Workforce Development Unit (WDU) for details of training courses available.
Even with training there will be situations where risk assessors or staff require specialist
advice on a move or equipment or provision of adaptations – in these cases staff should
consult with their manager and a healthcare professional.
SECTION 6: EQUIPMENT
When providing equipment to assist handling an individual it must be suitable for the task
and the individual – and must consider the:
 Needs of the individual – helping to maintain their independence and dignity where
possible
 Safety of the individual and staff
 Context of the task
Equipment must be assessed as part of the dynamic risk assessment carried out before
and during each task (including a pre-use visual check). If there is any doubt as to the
safety and function of the equipment if should not be used until checked by a suitably
qualified engineer – and must be labelled and isolated to prevent further use.
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team
Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 8 of 9
The care plan or workplace instruction must give specific details for an individual –
including the exact piece(s) of equipment, any additional compatible safety devices,
number of staff required to carry out the activity and any other relevant information. This
must be updated and communicated if anything changes.
Equipment can include (not an exhaustive list) – hoists (fixed, mobile, bath), slings,
harnesses, standing aids, stair lifts, riser chair, profiling bed/trolley, grab rails, turntables,
transfer boards, pillow riser, lifting cushion, slide sheet etc.
Staff must be trained in the equipment – and combinations of items – that they use for
handling individuals, also taking into account the manufacturer’s guidance.
Where lifting equipment (including hoists and slings) is used by people who are at work –
the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) apply – and it must be
inspected at least every six months as part of a thorough examination by a competent
person and documented. Routine maintenance and pre-use visual inspections may also
be required between these inspections – the risk assessment will identify this, also taking
manufacturer’s guidance and type of usage into consideration.
CYC Insurance and the HSE offer guidance on this www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsis4.pdf .
SECTION 7: EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
Managers are responsible for identifying hazardous situations and writing a protocol for
emergency procedures which should be included in the individual’s care plan / PEEP and
discussed with them. It may be necessary to use different handling techniques in an
emergency when there is not enough time to use equipment or plan a move, and staff
may find themselves making dynamic decisions in which they could compromise their own
safety.
These should be reviewed on a regular basis. Staff should be appropriately trained to deal
with emergency situations which could include:
 Dealing with a fallen or falling individual
 Evacuation of a premises/vehicle
 Medical event eg epileptic seizure
 Removing a customer from a harmful or potentially dangerous situation
 Resuscitation
SECTION 8: REPORTING OF INCIDENTS
Any work-related incident or near miss must be reported using a CYC Incident Report Form
(see Incident Reporting & Investigation compliance note CYC/HS/CN02 for further details)
and investigated appropriately.
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk
HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE NOTES
MANUAL HANDLING OF
PEOPLE
Version: 2
Issued by: Health & Safety Team
Ref No: CYC/HS/CN5B
Issue: June 2015
Page: 9 of 9
Staff who report pain, discomfort or who suffer an injury associated with manual handling
activities must be offered appropriate support – which may include variations to their
working pattern/workload, and/or a referral to Occupational Health (contact HR for details).
The associated risk assessment, workplace instruction/care plan and training must also be
reviewed to ensure they are sufficient – and any remedial action taken as required.
SECTION 9: MONITORING
Managers must carry out regular monitoring of activities to ensure that they are being
carried out safely (use form FMR1 in Section 5 of the H&S Policy section of the Safety
Management System) and take corrective action as required.
SECTION 10: FURTHER INFORMATION
http://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/moving-handling.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/moving-handling-equipment.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/Msd/
If you have any questions relating to this document please contact
healthandsafetyteam@york.gov.uk