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Elstree Business Centre
Elstree Way
Borehamwood
Herts
WD6 1RX
Tel: 0845 200 8536
Fax: 0845 200 8537
Email:enquiries@jemcare.net
Safer Moving and Handling (People & Objects)
This course is targeted at people working in a paid or voluntary capacity with children and/or adults who require assistance being lifted or in being moved.
This can include children and/or adults who have special needs, an illness or infirmity or who simply would benefit from the physical support of another individual. The course focuses on the needs of the individual, strategies to meet individual needs, spinal awareness, safe posture and the need for self-protection, Health and Safety legislation and techniques to assist individuals move through the use of hoists and other aids.
Candidates should be aged 18 years or over. Although no formal qualifications are required, candidates should have a good level of literacy. All candidates should also have at least one year's previous experience of working with either children or adults. You will be assessed through the production of a small portfolio of evidence of competency and through a short multiple choice exam. On completion of the course you will achieve, The Northern Council of Further Education: Safer Moving and Handling Techniques Certificate, a nationally recognised qualification.
Course aims:-
- To provide an awareness of the legal requirement related to moving and handling people
- To promote good practice in Moving &Handling techniques for people
- To enable candidates to develop the skills of risk assessment and problem solving
Manual Handling & Training
Everyone in an organisation has a responsibility towards the safe moving of loads.
Employers Duties
As an employer you should:
- Avoid the necessity for dangerous manual handling techniques, as far as reasonably practicable
- Assess the risks from any dangerous handling situations that are unavoidable
- Reduce the risk of injury from dangerous manual handling as far as is reasonably practicable (this means weighing up the benefit of reducing the risk with the amount of time, effort or money to do so)
- Consult employees about risks and their controls
Employees Duties
An employee should:
- Follow safety rules for their work
- Use any safety equipment provided
- Co-operate with the employer
- Inform the employer if dangerous manual handling methods are used
Avoid Manual Handling
The most effective way of avoiding injury is to not move items at all. So it may be best to consider the following:
- Automation
For example a repetitive process in a factory could be automated to avoid strain injury. - Mechanisation
A fork-lift truck could be used to move larger items.
When considering new methods, it is important to be aware of any new hazards that may create new opportunities for injury. Lifting equipment and new maintenance procedures may require training.
Making an assessment
It is the employer's responsibility to carry out an assessment, often aided by employees. JemCare Training Team can offer advice to get you started and the relevant training if a need is identified.
You do not need to do assessments for each individual employee, an overall assessment for employees who carry out similar duties is sufficient.
Using an assessment
It is important to identify the risk of injury and improvements that can be made. The assessment should be used to identify the worst aspects of work practices and remedy them first. An assessment should also be updated if significant changes are made.
How training can help
Training can cover the following areas:
- How to recognise dangerous manual handling
- Identifying suitable ways of working
- Use of mechanical aids
- Good handling methods