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Assessment of risk
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The identification of hazards and the evaluation of the risks involved.
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Best Interest Decision
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"Best interest decisions" refer to decisions made on behalf of someone who lacks the mental capacity to make those decisions for themselves. The decision maker must prioritize the individual's well-being, taking into account their past and present wishes, feelings, values, and beliefs. The decision should, as much as possible, reflect what the individual would have chosen if they had capacity. (https://www.gov.uk/make-decisions-for-someone)
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Competent Person
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The HSE defines a competent person as someone who has had sufficient training, experience, knowledge, skills and other qualities to comply with the requirements of the legislation.
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Care Quality Commission (CQC)
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CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.
We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve. (cqc.org.uk)
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Dynamic Risk Assessment
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A dynamic risk assessment (DRA) is a real-time process of identifying and analysing hazards as they arise during a task, especially in unpredictable or changing environments. It's a continuous evaluation, distinct from formal risk assessments that are completed beforehand. DRAs enable workers to make immediate decisions and adapt their actions to ensure safety in dynamic situations.
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Hazards
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Something with the potential to cause harm.
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Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
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The UK’s national regulator for workplace health and safety.
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Incident
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Moving and handling incidents refer to accidents or near misses that occur during the process of moving and handling people or objects, often resulting in injury to the person being moved or the handler. These incidents highlight the risks associated with improper techniques and inadequate planning when lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling loads, whether they are people or inanimate objects.
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Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)
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A requirement to maintain and inspect the safety of lifting equipment, i.e. hoists, slings and adjustable height furniture. It sets regulations on the timescale for maintenance:
- New equipment for lifting should be professionally inspected before first use, after assembly and before use at each new location
- Equipment for lifting persons that may be exposed to conditions causing deterioration should be inspected by a competent person, maintained at 6 monthly intervals or in line with the manufacturers recommendations and with the relevant record keeping
- Employees should be trained in use of this equipment and in pre-use checks and emergency procedures e.g. in the event of the equipment failure or an emergency
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Manual Handling
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Defined by MHOR as “…any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force”
For example this may be pushing a manual wheelchair or turning a person in bed.
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Moving and Handling
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In adult social care refers more specifically to when an individual requires assistance with moving. See HSE https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/moving-handling/index.htm
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Musculoskeletal (MSK)
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Relating to or involving the muscles and the skeleton.
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Occupational therapist
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Occupational therapists help people who have difficulties caused by physical or mental illness, disability, accidents or ageing. Occupational therapist could:
- teach and help people to live independently
- support people to manage permanent physical disabilities
- suggest ways to adapt an office or home
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Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
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These regulations specify the requirements for employers to ensure all equipment used at work is;
- Suitable for the intended use
- Maintained in a safe condition so that people’s health and safety is not at risk
- Inspected in certain circumstances to ensure that it is and continues to be safe for use. Inspection must be by a competent person and a record must be kept
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Reasonably Practicable
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The level of risk is balance against the potential resources and input that is required to remove or reduce the risk
This should include the risk arising from the home or the environment where the equipment is being used.
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Risk
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The likelihood and severity of harm being realised.
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