CH36. Care Home Use of Hoists
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Care Home Use of Hoists Policy
Policy Statement
{{org_field_name}} recognises that the people who use the service have a range of different mobility and handling needs and that some people may require the use of lifting equipment and manual handling aids, such as hoists. In this respect it is vital for the safety of individuals, and for staff, that such equipment is:
- subject to appropriate risk assessments
- used only by appropriately trained and competent staff
- maintained in a safe condition to use and subject to regular inspections by a responsible person
- subject to a visual check before use to ensure that there are no obvious defects.
{{org_field_name}} recognises its responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to provide and maintain working conditions that are safe, healthy and compliant with all statutory requirements and Codes of Practice.
In addition, the organisation understands its duty to ensure that all lifting equipment, and the use of that equipment where used, complies with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).
{{org_field_name}} recognises the risks involved with moving and handling operations using hoists and slings and is aware of tragic accidents that have caused injuries and even death to people in the health and care sectors in the past. To ensure safety, and to maximise the independence and dignity of people receiving care, {{org_field_name}} therefore expects the highest standards of diligence to be applied by managers, supervisors and staff and strict adherence to this and associated policies.
CQC Fundamental Standards Compliance
In England, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 apply.
With regard to the use of hoists for manual handling, the home understands that the following will apply:
- Regulation 9: Person-centred Care, includes requirements for the care and treatment of people who use the service to be appropriate and to meet their needs
- Regulation 12: Safe Care and Treatment, includes a requirement for the care and treatment of people who use the service to be provided in a safe way by staff who are competent and appropriately trained
- Regulation 15: Premises and Equipment, includes a requirement for all equipment used by the service provider, such as person-lifting hoists, to be clean, safe and properly maintained.
The home understands that the intention of the regulations is to prevent people from receiving unsafe care and treatment and to prevent any avoidable harm or risk of harm.
Moving and Handling People Using Hoists
In {{org_field_name}}:
• a full assessment of each person’s mobility should be carried out which should indicate where a moving and handling risk assessment is needed; in such cases, a moving and handling plan should be developed from any risk assessment that identifies the need for any lifting equipment and manual handling aids; the plan should be agreed with the individual, implemented and reviewed
• handling aids, such as hoists, should be used where appropriate to minimise risk and as indicated in the moving and handling plan; all assessments of moving and handling needs should consider the dignity and independence of people receiving care, as well as their reablement, rehabilitation and developmental needs; it should also consider risks to staff; all assessments should actively involve the individual and, where appropriate, their family or those acting on their behalf; equipment, including hoists, should only be used as specified in the moving and handling plan and then only by staff who have been trained and are competent to use the hoist involved
• the moving and handling risk assessment and plan, where it indicates the use of equipment such a hoist, will inform both equipment and staffing needs; an appropriate hoist should be procured, along with appropriately fitted slings, and staff allocated on the basis of their experience and training; staff should work in pairs if the need is identified in the risk assessment; managers should set the staff rota accordingly
• manual handling risk assessments and moving and handling plans must be regularly reviewed and updated as required; reviews may reveal that changes in an individual’s condition mean equipment that was previously used is no longer suitable for them; staff should be trained to recognise such changes and report them
• it is mandatory that all staff who undertake the movement of people using a hoist or a sling have attended the appropriate moving and handling training on the use of the equipment concerned; all handlers must be familiar with the equipment and with the manoeuvre being implemented
• staff should always carry out a visual safety check and other appropriate safety checks prior to use; if they detect any serious faults or problems with the hoist or sling that might affect the safety of the manual handling operation they should report the fault to their line manager and withdraw the equipment from service immediately
• slings should be checked for wear and tear and cleanliness each time they are used; worn slings should be replaced
• when using a hoist, staff should:
a) never use a hoist that they have not been trained to use
b) always ensure that the right hoist is being used for the job — if in doubt, staff should not use the hoist but reassess the handling operation
c) never exceed the safe working load of the hoist
d) check that the hoist is properly maintained, is in good condition and has been serviced regularly, as required under LOLER
e) check that inspection labels attached by maintenance staff are in date
f) check that battery powered hoists are fully charged
g) check that any emergency stop or emergency manual override works so that the hoist can be lowered safely if the normal electronic controls fail to work
h) check that any remote control works
i) check that wheels move freely and that brakes are effective
j) always select an appropriate sling for the particular person to be lifted, checking that the sling is the correct size and type and is in good condition
k) never attempt to wheel a fully laden hoist from one room to another — hoists are not designed for moving people long distances
l) only use brakes during storage and not when lifting or lowering unless specified in the hoist instructions — mobile hoists generally need to adjust their centre of gravity during a lift and if the brakes are used they can become unstable and may tip
m) move any furniture or equipment that may hamper the good position of handlers
n) ensure that the individual has been fully informed as clearly as possible about the manual handling operation and their consent sought — all communications and information provided must take into account the person’s need, including their social and cultural background and any disabilities
• staff should report any accident, incident or near miss involving moving and handling and use of a hoist.
Responsibilities of Managers
- Managers in {{org_field_name}} should support the implementation of this policy. They should ensure that appropriate lifting equipment or manual handling aids are provided as required and that they are fit for purpose and safe to use. Where the equipment is provided by a third party managers should ensure its safety and compliance with this policy.
- Managers should ensure that relevant information, instruction, training and supervision is provided to ensure the health and safety at work of employees and others.
- Managers should arrange for the regular maintenance, servicing, thorough examination and inspection of hoists as specified in the manufacturer’s instructions and as required by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). Examinations should be carried out by a competent person every six months and regular inspections in-between. They should arrange for appropriate records to be kept.
- All accidents or incidents involving the moving and handling of individuals and hoists should be reported, including near misses (where an accident could have occurred but was narrowly avoided). Staff must complete an incident form following any accident or incident and statements should be taken from witnesses to the incident whenever appropriate. Managers should complete a full investigation and reports regularly reviewed by senior management to identify any trends or patterns.
- Hoists that are withdrawn from service should be thoroughly examined and clearly labelled as defective and a “DO NOT USE” notice attached. Depending on the result of the examination, managers should either condemn and dispose of the equipment, replacing it with a new device, or arrange for the hoist to be repaired by a qualified service engineer.
Training
All staff who will be expected to use a hoist for the moving and handling of a person should have the appropriate training. Such training should focus on specific tasks and equipment as well as on the more general information required to carry out safe manual handling. Records of the training should be kept.
Managers are responsible for keeping records of all staff training and for ensuring during appraisal that all statutory and mandatory training has been completed.
Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
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