Analyse The Limits Of Own Role In Relation To Moving And Positioning

Adherence and Training to Necessary Paperwork

There are some specific tasks that you should not perform unless you have had relevant training. Moving and handling is one of those tasks. Repositioning and transferring individuals is a crucial task in health and safety departments. The relation to moving and positioning people and things should be studied and practised safely. 

How can the training be conducted here? First of all, there is a care plan developed that guides on all tips on the manual handling of equipment and individuals. The training should be done under the strict observation of the professionals. The care plan can be accessed by the individual in your care. Along with the decorum of moving things, the plan would involve details about the individual’s needs and wishes.

Before you sign up for the work, you should guarantee that you will follow your responsibilities as assigned in the employer’s agreed ways of working and documented rules. Of course, the details about certain equipment must be adopted per instructions as well.

Safety and Precautions Check

It is important to check your equipment and how functional it is. It is best to clarify if the product is working well and can be used in terms of the employer’s assigned guidelines. Warning signs must be observed well and the procedure of the product’s operations must be taken care of accordingly. This is how you know how well the equipment is under your care. 

Lifting a heavy object is a laborious task; you should know about its weight in kilograms beforehand. It is also an important role of yours, whether your employer mentions it or not. Another point to ponder is that if the equipment in question is used by multiple individuals, then it is the job of a carer to make sure that it remains disinfected and cleaned to reduce infection risks.

Reporting and Recording

If you do find faults in objects and equipment, then you should immediately report them to your employer. It is an essential part of your policy to keep the equipment safe for the individuals in your care. The defective equipment must not be used and should be recorded as soon as possible so that it can be replaced with new and functional equipment. 

Planning

It goes without saying, but the important part of caring is planning. You want to support an individual who is not medically fit; if you want to move them somewhere, make sure the area is safe and clear. A clear route minimises the risk of injury and guarantees wellbeing during the process.

It is not just limited to people; for example, if you want to place something heavy on the table, you will have to clean the table first or make sure it is already clean. Similarly, if you move an individual or a piece of equipment, then the clear route must be guaranteed first.

Manual handling assessment has a set of components you should comply with. Let us dive into the five main of them:

Individual – In the case of an individual, the aspects you should consider: who is the individual? Who is taking care of them? Are they sick, impaired, or pregnant? Is the carer suitable for the job, or do we need someone else?

Task – What is the task in nature? Is it lifting, carrying, pulling, or pushing? Where should we move it from and to?

Environment – Are there space issues? What are the hazards? Is there poor lighting in the place? Are there steps or stairs? Is it possible to move an individual or an object from one place to another? 

Load – What is the size or weight of the given load? Is it evenly distributed, or is it uneven in places?

Whether it is risky moving or it is about regular activities, your employer must prepare a risk assessment document. This gives you a fair share of knowledge on what risks are and how they should be eliminated or reduced. You must read about them or adhere to their services.

Manual Handling

It is time to be realistic in terms of handling. You should be well aware of your capabilities. This allows you to learn how much you can lift; do not try to lift something that is too heavy and beyond your strength. If something is too bulky or too heavy, then lifting it could be risky for your body and could cause internal injuries.

To avoid the risk of harm, you may involve someone else to help you carry a heavy object. And if there is nobody else, no additional support, and you have to lift the heavy equipment on your own, then engage the right muscles, keep yourself stable, and lift only then. Do not make the mistake of bending your back; it could cause harm to your back or end up injuring other muscles.

Communication is the key to these locks. Moving things safely is not an easy task. Consult your coworkers, ask them for advice, and try to implement their suggestions. Poor communication keeps things unsafe; your primary responsibility is to establish communication so you can carry out tasks carefully and safely.

Prioritize Safety

Safety is a disciplinary action. Seek safe practices and maintain the guidelines so that you can perform correctly and there is little to no chance of failure. In a care setting, if there is no safety, then there is no work. You should care about the safety of the individuals in your care, the safety of your colleagues, and the safety of yourself.