Reading List

These official sources back the course content and are useful for workplace follow-up, supervision, policy review and refresher learning. The core safer-handling principles apply across the UK; HSE guidance covers England, Scotland and Wales, with HSENI and Northern Ireland legislation where arrangements differ.

Core HSE guidance for England, Scotland and Wales

• HSE: Moving and handling in health and social care
  The main overview page for health and social care. Useful for the legal framework, the care-setting context, and how poor people-handling practice affects staff and service users.
• HSE: Managing the risks of moving and handling
  Covers policy, competence, generic and individual risk assessments, care-plan detail, monitoring and review.
• HSE: Moving and handling equipment
  Describes equipment that may be needed and gives key points on hoists, slings, handling belts and using equipment according to assessment and instructions.
• HSE: Manual handling at work
  Provides the avoid-assess-reduce hierarchy and explains that there is no single legal weight limit.
• HSE: Avoid hazardous manual handling
  Helps when reviewing whether a task can be redesigned, mechanised or otherwise avoided rather than relying on strength or technique.
• HSE: Assess manual handling you cannot avoid
  Guidance on assessing the task, load, environment and individual capability, including awkward posture, poor flooring or lighting, and worker capability.
• HSE: Reduce the risk of injury
  Practical measures for changing the task, load and environment and for using mechanical help where appropriate.
• HSE: Training
  Explains that training alone will not ensure safe manual handling unless the task and the system are designed safely as well.
• HSE: Good handling technique
  Simple reminders for handling inanimate loads, and a clear statement that technique supplements safer systems rather than replacing them.
• HSE: The law
  Links to the Manual Handling Operations Regulations and related legal material.

Care regulation and reporting

• CQC: Adult social care information for providers
  England-specific regulatory guidance for providers; helps to place moving and handling within the wider regulatory framework.
• CQC Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment
  Relates to risk assessment, competence, safe equipment and timely care planning where moving and handling risks arise.
• CQC Regulation 15: Premises and equipment
  Covers the expectation that moving and handling equipment is suitable, properly used, maintained and accessible when required.
• HSE: RIDDOR in health and social care
  Guidance for managers and senior staff on deciding whether a serious incident or injury requires statutory reporting in Great Britain.

Nation-specific legal signposting

• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
  The Great Britain regulations that underpin the HSE manual handling framework for England, Scotland and Wales.
• HSENI: Manual handling
  The main Northern Ireland manual handling guidance page for staff and managers working under Northern Ireland arrangements.
• HSENI: Handling with care
  A short HSENI healthcare-sector guide on preventing and managing musculoskeletal disorders in health and social care settings.
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992
  The Northern Ireland legal equivalent to the Great Britain manual handling regulations; the primary legal reference for Northern Ireland.

For daily practice, follow your local moving and handling policy and each person's current care plan first, then consult these official sources for the wider legal or regulatory context.