Moving and handling: protecting the people you support, and yourself

Moving and handling is one of the most physical parts of care work, and one of the riskiest, for the person being moved and for the care worker. On 16 September 2026, the MHRA issued a National Patient Safety Alert on patient hoists and slings after 22 reports of fatal incidents during transfers between 2015 and 2025. Deaths happened in hospitals, care homes and people's own homes, and the alert says the risk is not confined to any manufacturer, model or setting.

The alert applies directly to adult social care. Every provider that uses hoists has until 16 September 2027 to complete the actions.

Why falls from hoists happen

The alert sets out the causes, and almost all of them can be prevented:

• the wrong size or type of sling for the person
• hoist and sling combinations that are not compatible, including third-party slings not validated for that hoist
• damaged or incorrectly attached sling loops, or worn hooks and clips
• skipped pre-use checks
• overdue maintenance or LOLER examinations
• insufficient training, or not following the manufacturer's instructions

What the alert requires providers to do

A senior accountable person should coordinate the work. In a service without an executive board, that is usually the registered manager or the responsible individual.

The law in brief

• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, assess what cannot be avoided, and reduce the risk.
• LOLER 1998: equipment used to lift people, including hoists and slings, must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every six months, or in line with a written examination scheme.
• Your care plan: HSE guidance says it should specify the hoist, the sling type and size, the loop configuration and how many carers are needed.

Five habits for every transfer

1. Check the care plan first. Use the sling and loop configuration it specifies, the same on both sides.
2. Inspect before every use. Look for fraying, damaged loops, faded labels and worn clips. If in doubt, take it out of use.
3. Pause at take-up. Lift slightly, stop, and check every attachment point before the full lift.
4. Never leave the person unattended in a hoist.
5. Talk to the person throughout. Explain what is happening. A frightened person may move suddenly, and their dignity matters.

Protecting care workers too

HSE figures show 511,000 workers in Great Britain had a work-related musculoskeletal disorder in 2024/25, and health and social care has a higher rate of work-related ill health than average. Every back injury is a person in pain and a colleague off shift. Good technique, the right equipment and enough staff for each transfer protect your team as well as the people you support.