How to Handle This is Hireup’s new interview series all about manual handling. In this edition, former Hireup board observer Steve Ralph shares how with a hoist and adventurous spirit, he's continued to live his good life.
Before he sustained a spinal cord injury diving into a pool in 2017, Steve had no idea what manual handling even was. Now, it’s part of his everyday routine.
“I went from ‘holy sh*t, this is heaps weird’ to ‘this is just part of what you do’.”
“Manual handling is almost second nature to me now. It’s ingrained in how I have to do everything. It’s how you get out of bed or how you shower.”
Steve says becoming familiar with manual handling wasn’t a “conscious thing” for him, rather, as time went on, it just became a part of his life. “It becomes so not memorable because it’s just how you get onto your bike or into your wheelchair.”
Manual handling hasn’t stopped Steve living his good life, which for him means continuing his adrenaline-seeking exploits. Steve recalls a tourist flight he took over Hawaii two years ago where he was hauled from his wheelchair into a dodgy-looking three-meter tall chopper with no doors.
“Yeah, that was an interesting manual handling transfer,” Steve says with a grin. “It was not pretty, and definitely not Occupational Health and Safety textbook-approved, but it was fun.”
Steve was experienced enough to handle a rough transfer like this by this point in his manual handling journey. But, he doesn’t underestimate the risks involved.
“I think the most critical thing is skin integrity. If you get a skin tear from a transfer… especially on your back or something and you’re seated all day it can take ages to heal. I think that is the trickiest thing to manage.”
According to Steve, getting manual handling right is twofold. The most important part is being aware of his body during transfers. Not only does this guarantee a smooth transition, but it’s vital to making sure he doesn’t get injured in the process.
“I guess over time you learn what things are relevant to you and what to look out for, as there’s only a certain amount of things that could possibly happen but once you’ve taken care of them, everything else will be okay.”
The second part is communicating clearly with your support workers. “Sometimes you don’t even need to say anything, they just get it. But even if someone has experience, they might not know your preferences or what to be mindful of. Be really clear with what you need.”
Whether you want to go for a helicopter joyride or complete your morning routine, Steve shows that manual handling will not get in the way of living a good life.
Hundreds of people, including Steve, use Hireup for assistance with manual handling. Visit our specialised support page to learn about the various ways you can use Hireup.