Moving and handling people in health and social care settings must be done correctly. Every time a patient or service user is moved, there’s the potential for discomfort, embarrassment and injury for everyone involved. These risks are much more significant when carers use the wrong moving and handling techniques.
In fact, some methods still used to move patients and service users are so unsafe they’ve been banned. This guide highlights the four illegal moving and handling techniques carers must avoid and offers advice on how to assist people safely.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid these unsafe moving and handling techniques: Australian lift, drag lift, through arm lift and walking with interlocked arms
- Always assess the situation before moving a person, considering both safety and comfort.
- Ongoing training is essential to stay aware of safe moving and handling practices.
The Law on Moving and Handling People
All workplaces, including health and care facilities, must comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA). Under the HSWA, Employers have a general duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their staff. Staff must also take reasonable steps to protect themselves while working.
The HSWA is supported by the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999. These regulations set out what employers must do to meet their duty of care under the HSWA, including:
- Carry out a risk assessment of work activities
- Implement necessary control measures wherever risks are identified
- Provide the necessary instruction, training and equipment for staff to do their jobs safely
So, any moving and handling injury risks should have been documented as part of the general risk assessment process. When this happens, you must also comply with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations
Legally, moving and handling patients and service users is a subtype of manual handling, so it must comply with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR).
MHOR sets out what you must do to eliminate or reduce the risk of injury when transporting or supporting a “load” by hand or bodily force. In health and safety law, the term “load” applies to people as well as objects.
To comply with MHOR, you must first try to eliminate manual handling as much as possible. For moving and handling, using lifting equipment might eliminate the need to support a patient manually, which removes injury risks for the lifter.
But there will be times when eliminating moving and handling is impractical (lifting equipment might be too expensive to justify the cost, for example). In these situations, a competent person must assess the injury risks to everyone involved and plan how to manage them.
One of the most essential control measures is using appropriate moving and handling techniques.
Moving and Handling Risks
Moving a person isn’t the same as moving an object. Whenever you move someone, there are at least two people at risk.
If you’re lifting, you (and your colleagues if it’s a team lift) might suffer from sprains, strains and eventual musculoskeletal disorders if you repeatedly use unsafe techniques. The person being lifted might also be injured if they’re handled roughly or dropped during the move.
In addition to the injury risks, being moved can be distressing. It can cause embarrassment or feelings of inadequacy, particularly if it takes a long time or repeated attempts to move someone. So, assessing and planning moves is as necessary to prevent injuries as it is to prevent humiliation.
4 Moving and Handling Techniques to Avoid
The four moving and handling techniques listed below must never be used, even if they might seem safe.
Drag Lift
The drag lift involves lifting a person by placing one arm under theirs. This technique puts a dangerous strain on the shoulder of the person being moved, inevitably causing discomfort and often injury.
Australian Lift
The Australian lift is similar to a two-person drag lift; two caregivers place a shoulder each under the arms of the person being lifted.
Although this distributes the force across two of the patient’s shoulders, the injury risks are still too high for this technique to be safe.
Through Arm Lift
The through arm lift sees the carer pass their arm through the legs of the person being moved before lifting them. This technique is typically used to lift a patient from a prone position despite the injury risks.
To execute a through arm lift, you have to lean over the service user. This position puts their centre of gravity away from yours, which is ill-advised when lifting. Holding them away from your body puts more pressure on your spine, increasing the chance of a strain or herniated disc. The service user is also likely to suffer injuries around their groin or pelvis.
Walking with Interlocked Arms
While it may feel natural to interlock arms when walking with an unsteady service user, this approach actually makes it harder to offer support. Rather than stabilising them, you’re both more likely to fall if the service user loses their balance.
Instead, stand to the service user’s weaker side, slightly behind them. Hold their palm in yours without interlocking thumbs (the “Palmer” hold) and stay close to them as they move.
Moving and Handling Safety
Safe moving and handling is different for every service user, but there are common steps to every safe lift:
- Risk Assessment: Evaluate the environment and the person’s needs before attempting any movement. Adjust your approach based on this assessment.
- Use Equipment: Where possible, use moving and handling tools like hoists or transfer belts to reduce manual lifting and enhance stability.
- Know your Limits: Ensure you’re up-to-date on handling techniques and know how to use any equipment provided. Regular training builds confidence and reduces risks.
These precautions reduce injury risks and promote a respectful, safe approach to care. The Health and Safety Executive has more information on moving and handling safety here.
Moving and Handling People Training
If you want to learn more about safe moving and handling techniques, our online Moving and Handling of People Training will help.
The course provides comprehensive guidance for moving patients and service users in healthcare settings. It explains how to properly assess, plan and carry out the moving and handling of people, including assistance with walking, dressing, getting up and vehicle transfers.
About the author(s)
Jonathan Goby