4. Identifying the potential risks

In 2007, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified performing a good quality risk assessment, prior to undertaking a manual handling activity, to be an important intervention in reducing workplace injuries.

Risk assessment is a process of identifying risks involved in an activity such as hoisting a patient from A to B as seen earlier in this resource.

Effective risk assessments are achieved by involving the people carrying out the activity. All organisations have to develop their own risk assessment and handling plan. The risk assessment should be performed, prior to each moving and handling activity, using the acronym TILE (Task, Individual, Load, Environment). Each of these elements influence each other and must be seen as a whole and not independently.

Using this approach we can start to understand the relationship of assessment to reduce harm, injury and damage when we problem solve and develop solutions to move and handle loads.

To reduce harm, injury and damage a handling plan is written regarding the method and equipment (if required) to be used.

What does the MHOR say about this?

Select a TILE icon below to uncover helpful prompts for consideration.