Moving and handling refers to the act of moving, lifting, pushing, or supporting something or someone with muscular force
. It is a key part of the working day for most employees, and it may involve moving office equipment, kitchen equipment, tables, chairs, cupboards, toys, or even lifting a baby from a high chair
. In health and social care, moving and handling involves assisting a person in your care to move or perform several activities, such as getting into and out of bed, bath, shower, or vehicles, walking, sitting down, and using the restroom
. The moving and handling of people is a regular task in health and social care, which if not done safely, can cause serious injury to service users and staff
. Safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) involves the use of mechanical equipment and safety procedures to lift and move patients so that healthcare workers can minimize the risk of injury
