Question about Manual Handling in Canada

The movements are pretty standard as taught in college.


Usually transfer belts, saska poles (aka the stripper pole), mechanical lifts. The floatation/hover beds are making an appearance on bariatric units.

I know that in my region it is 2-3 staff when operating a mechanical lift (we don't use it a lot). When I worked in BC the hospital there said one person for a mechanical lift (I know, the issues, but it was their policy)

Not sure about the hospitals because I have never worked in complex care in a hospital where they are very frequently used but I do know that in LTC, it must be two to a lift.

I work in a complex care hospital and we have a 2 person policy for mechanical lifts. I worked as a personal support worker in the community and operated mechanical lifts by myself.

I must agree with the above poster, I have also seen some lifts used by only one person in the nursing home as I have never worked in the community but the reality is there is often only one person there. Thanks for the post above because it is the reality of Ontario nursing.