i recently started work in a nursing home and although we have hoists to lift the residents, the other carers there do not use them for slightly lighter or more able residents. i have tried telling them that we should be using hoists to lift everyone if they are unable to walk by themselves but they do not listen and lift them out of their wheelchairs (with my help) anyway. i have tried talking to them but no one will listen and it is starting to alienate me from everyone else. my manager will not listen to me either. i thought that it was illegal to lift people if there are other options such as hoists? also, i have not yet had the manual handling training for the company so i should not be lifting anyone or even using the hoists at all! is there somewhere i can report the home for this?also, all the lifting is hurting my back and joints. surely there's something i can do to stop it?
pick up the phone and call ohsa -- who will get results!!!
