Building a Manual Handling System

Building a Manual Handling System

Peter Bohan CFIOSH

Welcome key themes

- What is Manual Handling (MH)

- Cost to healthcare

- Policy

- Plan and case studies

- Training

- Summary

The presentation will describe the following

What is Manual Handling

Manual handling activities involving the transporting or

supporting of loads, including lifting, lowering, pushing,

pulling, carrying or moving loads. A load may be either

inanimate, for example a box or a trolley, or animate, for

example a person or an animal.

HSE Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, as amended by the Health and Safety

(Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002.

Why is it important

- Nurses have a lifetime prevalence of 35-80% to sustain injury.

- More than 33% of all workplace injuries are caused by manual handling (MH).

- Two‐thirds (67·6%) associated with direct patient care; 32·4% with non‐clinical work.

- 33% of reportable accidents result in 7 or more days off work in UK.

- NHS figures indicate 45% of all sickness absences due to MH (cost £400M).

- 1 claim for a nurse cost the NHS £800,000 = 3,746,264 QAR.

- 1 in 4 nurses have at sometime taken time off work with a back injury sustained at work.

What is a Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) How would you describe them?

- Who has ever had a back injury?

- What is Musculoskeletal Disorder?

- Define acute episode?

- Define a chronic condition?

- Affects nerves, tendons, muscles, supporting structures of the body and compromise

their function.

Psychosocial risk factors & MSD’s

- High job demands

- Lack of job control

- Monotonous work

- Limited social support (at work)

- Postures that place risks on individuals

The Skeletal System

The outer part, which includes the arms and legs, functions to enable movement of the body.

The inner part, which includes the spine, provides support to the body and protection to the vulnerable internal organs. The spine protects the spinal cord.

Make the plan simple

1• Key Elements of manual handling (identify clinical & non-clinical).

• Development of Policy that complies with appropriate Laws/Regulations.

2

• Remove hazardous manual handling activities through audit.

• Develop a culture that avoids manual handling and looks for safest option.

3

• Identifies through systematic approach root causes of accidents.

• Follows good manual handling risk assessment process.

4

• The development of a competent committed workforce that implements training.

• All levels of staff understand their roles and responsibilities.

5• Instructors and Link trainers become key contacts who develop training at bedside.

• Care pathways influence the way manual handling is delivered to patients.

Policy Development

- Developed a single Policy to cover general and people handling with clear structure.

- Aligned Policy to Ministry of Public Health Strategy 2018-2022.

- Legislation is followed including Joint Commissioning International and Nice Guidance.

- Care pathway and risk assessment built in to data base.

- Governance structure in place ensures risks are escalated.

- Committee drives the Policy (including purchasing process).

- Audit system in place as part of Policy (6 monthly review).

Task Individual Load Environment

Make Training Practical

Case Studies

Define risks and control measures?

- Mr. Ali is 60 years old male. He has multiple sclerosis and has full use of his upper limbs,

but little strength in his lower limbs. He is 80 kg he needs to be moved in his bed as he has

bed sores (Ulcers). All equipment is available and you have 3 trained healthy staff.

- A bariatric female patient was admitted to your ward with a fractured left knee. She weighs

260 kg. She requires to go to the gym for physiotherapy, she has difficulty walking due to

her left knee fracture and is in pain. As you plan to transfer her, there is no equipment and

the floor is slippy as it has just been cleaned there is 2 fit trained staff available 1 male and

1 female.

Care Pathway

- On admission identify the following:-

- History of falls.

- Height, weight and BMI.

- Comprehension, confusion, agitated and language barriers.

- Communication hearing/visual impairment to be considered.

- Handling/mobility problems may include upper limb, lower limb, sitting and balance.

- Risk rank low, medium, high.

- Assistance required (number of staff).

- Types of equipment required, hoist, sling, slide sheets, banana boards etc.

Types of equipment in healthcare

What have we done so far (12 Months)

- Policy developed and being implemented.

- TOR clear for Committee, including SPC, Equipment evaluation group developed.

- E-learning package Qatar Council of Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) accredited.

- Non-clinical training complete.

- Hospital data base system created separate MH module with risk assessment built in.

- Contractors risk assessments to reflect work activities at tender stage.

- Staff clinic provides data on staff attending clinic with MSD.

- Link training 2 day course in place.

- Communication plan being developed for launch (April 2019)

- Intranet site to be developed.

Future of Manual Handling (Exoskeletal Suit)

Review the system

- What have we learned in first 12 months.

- What worked well and not.

- Is the TILE risk assessment working and being implemented (audit).

- Has there been an improvement in manual handling outcomes.

- Did what we set out to do become reality.

- Where KPI’s achieved.

- Was care pathway used in data base system as part of patient management system.

- Was the Policy implemented in all service areas.

Summary

- Talked through why manual handling is important in healthcare.

- Be clear on Policy and process.

- Described training and equipment in healthcare.

- Care pathway and why it is important.

- Future developments.

Any Questions