Manual Handling Risk Assessment for use of the Compact 2 Track Chair.

Transcription

1 Manual Handling Risk Assessment for use of the Compact 2 Track Chair. Assessment conducted by: Health & Safety Manager (Interim), Safety Systems Manager, Learning & Development Tutor (Quality & Risk) on Friday 13 th December2013 Author: Health & Safety Manager. Introduction This risk assessment covers the manual handling (M.H.) aspects involved in the movement of patients in the use of the track 2 chair. The task was broken down into basic steps and each was assessed with risk identified and suitable control measures detailed. Task step Risk Control Measure Information Gathering en route Inadequate information leading to unnecessary risk of M.H. injury due to not having correct equipment to hand Call information and assessment of patient likelihood and suitability to use of track chair and other aids. Carrying track chair into property and upstairs Opening and setting chair M. H injury due to combined weight of chair and track M.H injury to staff. Injury to patient and staff due to chair collapse Move and handle chair and track separately. Wheel the chair wherever possible. Evaluate the proposed working area, route and destination. Carry chair and track up stairs separately. Use of good manual handling techniques. Use of good manual handling techniques. Bend knees and crouch down /onto one knee to maintain comfort and reduce strain on lower back Fully open the Compact 2 Carry Chair until an audible click is heard, then secure the chair by pushing the safety rings engage over both of the hinge brackets.

2 Task step Risk Control measure Transferi ng patient onto chair Drop/ injure patient, M.H. injury to staff. DRA -assess patient and environment, make space. Use equipment eg. Transfer board, belts and slide-sheets. Minimise/share load, use correct M.H. techniques. Staff ensure weight considered within their capability. Chair tipping Ensure that a member of staff is always present at the rear of the chair, supporting it. Wheeling patient in chair to top of stairs( and wheeling of patient in chair at bottom etc.) Patient falling off chair-impact injury to patient, musculoskeletal injury to staff on trying to prevent them falling Assess patient condition and secure them using chair foot and lap/chest straps. Patient s arms flailing or kicking up with feet at operator, especially on stairs Chest strap should be secured around shoulders arms inside. Foot strap to secure legs and feet. From the rear position, adjust the upper handle to the desired best position (bottom 3 settings) for comfortable handling. Warn patient prior to tipping back to wheel. On tipping change grip to underhand grip to prevent dropping. Apply good M.H. Techniques

3 Task step Risk Control measure Descending stairs Musculoskeletal injuries to staff whilst fitting track and descending stairs. Loss of control of chair resulting in fall downstairs of staff and patient, serious injury to patient and staff. Stand chair upright at top of stairs. Crouch and fit track whilst stooping on one knee using good M.H. techniques. Fully extend handle and engage track. Take overhand grip of bar, warn patient and tip back changing grip to underhand. Front person on stairs with solid stance striding two stairs one foot forward guides chair wheels to edge of top stair. Then positions self, feet apart on one step and draws chair onto top step to engage the track. Both operatives move together Front operator pushes down holding chair onto stairs as proceeding down. Rear operator bending knees and keeping chair close into their body, applies downward pressure on the extended handle pushing chair down the stairs. At bottom of stairs front person squats down until wheels are on the floor then applies bodyweight down onto handles to assist chair into upright position. Once upright rear operator to crouch and disengage and remove track. Lower handle to most comfortable setting of bottom three holes for wheeling.

4 Chair falling due to poor condition of stairs or insecure carpet detaching Inability to control chair due to weight of heavy patient leading to fall of staff and patent downstairs Assess condition of route including staircase and carpet prior to deploying tracked chair. If carpet crumples continue descent to the bottom of the stairs, do not attempt to go back up. Call on bariatric vehicle and use powered chair. If patient is not bariatric consider additional personnel. Two at the top on descending and at the bottom ascending. Ascending stairs (chair to be lifted, track not fitted) Musculoskeletal injuries to staff Loss of control of chair resulting in fall downstairs of staff and patient, serious injury to patient and staff. Bariatric patient training Track is removed Start with both personnel on a level otherwise top person is bent over presenting risk of injury. Top leads, lift and move together with a firm stance. Once wheels clear stairs, bottom person states Wheels Clear and takes firm stance on single stair. Head end then gives command Ready steady lower and chair is lowered onto wheels Compact 2 track chair and general carry chair training.

5 Conclusion The latest instruction manual should be available for all users. The track and chair are to be carried separately. In order to safely use the chair as a conventional carry chair, staff must receive training in opening/closing procedure including engaging the safety rings, changing grips for tipping, wheeling and carrying and adjusting the handle correctly for carrying. Staff are not to use the chair with the track fitted until trained. Staff must not to use the chair tracked to descend stairs until they have completed training on stairs in both the top and bottom positions and been signed off against the learning outcomes. The chair must only be used tracked when both operatives are trained and signed off against the learning outcomes. Staff are to have their attention drawn to the bariatric procedures and when to consider them. The learning outcomes for training on the Chair were reviewed. Refresh training should be delivered at an interval to be decided by training school.