Patient Care Ergonomics Training for Healthcare Workers : Patient Care Ergonomics Training for Healthcare Workers OSHA Nursing Home Guidelines


OSHA Nursing Home Guidelines: OSHA Nursing Home Guidelines OSHA also saw the need to address this serious problem in the Healthcare Industry…. OSHA Targeted Several Industries – Nursing Home Industry – 1st Targeted March 13, 2003


Why has OSHA targeted Nursing Homes?: Why has OSHA targeted Nursing Homes? OSHA recognized that direct care staff in nursing homes experience high numbers of back and other musculoskeletal injuries every year.


Why has OSHA targeted Nursing Homes?: Why has OSHA targeted Nursing Homes? OSHA targets Patient handling as the greatest risk factor contributing to the majority of injuries, lost & restricted workdays, and worker’s comp costs in Nursing Homes


Why has OSHA targeted Nursing Homes?: Why has OSHA targeted Nursing Homes? According to OSHA… The nursing home industry injury incident rate is 13.9 injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers. This is more than double the incident rate of 6.1 of industry as a whole. (US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Hospital eTool-HealthCare wide hazards module: Ergonomics. Retrieved 6/12/02 from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hospital_etool/hazards/ergo/ergo.html)


Why has OSHA targeted Nursing Homes?: Why has OSHA targeted Nursing Homes? OSHA summarized these findings: Nursing Home workers suffer most injuries (51.2 %) when handling Patients. 58% of their injuries are strains and sprains. While back injuries account for 27% of all injuries in the private sector, in nursing homes they account for 42% of all injuries. (OSHA. (n.d.) Worker safety and health in the nursing home industry. Retrieved 6/10/02 from http://www.osha.gov/NewInit/NurseHome/factsht.html)


OSHA Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders: OSHA Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders Reducing Staff Injury and Improving Patient Safety


Strategies to Reduce Ergonomic Injuries in ALL Industries: Strategies to Reduce Ergonomic Injuries in ALL Industries OSHA Outreach & Assistance Consultation Services Compliance Assistance Specialists Regional Office (Atlanta) OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Educational Resource Centers www.osha.gov


Strategies to Reduce Ergonomic Injuries in Industries: Strategies to Reduce Ergonomic Injuries in Industries Enforcement General Duty Clause Ergonomic Guidelines Act as ‘Guidelines’ Offer Best Practices & Sources of Information


OSHA Guidelines for Nursing Homes: OSHA Guidelines for Nursing Homes Primary Goal… “Providing an alternative to manual Patient lifting is the primary goal of the ergonomic process in the nursing home setting and of these Guidelines.”


OSHA Guidelines for Nursing Homes: OSHA Guidelines for Nursing Homes “OSHA recommends that manual lifting of Patients be minimized in ALL cases and eliminated when feasible.”


Recommendations for Employers: Recommendations for Employers Develop Process for Protecting Workers * Identify Problems/Implement solutions for Patient lifting and repositioning * Identify Problems/Implement solutions for activities other than Patient lifting and repositioning * Training * (* included in this Training)


1. Develop Process for Protecting Workers that… : 1. Develop Process for Protecting Workers that… Provides Management Support Involves Employees Identifies Problems Implements Solutions Addresses Reports of Injuries Provides Training Evaluates Ergonomic Efforts


2. Identify Problems/Implement Solutions for Patient Lifting and Repositioning: 2. Identify Problems/Implement Solutions for Patient Lifting and Repositioning Analyze needs and abilities of Patients * Use established protocols to determine appropriate handling & movement methods specific for each Patient * Integrate Patient handling solutions & equipment into Nursing Home *


3. Identify Problems & Implement Solutions for ‘Other’ Activities: 3. Identify Problems & Implement Solutions for ‘Other’ Activities Making beds Feeding Patients Lifting food trays Collecting wastes Pushing heavy carts Bending to remove items from a deep cart Lifting & carrying when receiving & stocking supplies Bending & manually cranking bed Removing laundry from washer/dryer More…


3. Identify Problems & Implement Solutions for ‘Other’ Activities: 3. Identify Problems & Implement Solutions for ‘Other’ Activities Consider employee exposure to: Forceful exertions Repetitive activities Awkward postures Consider these aspects of the 3 types of Exposures: Duration Frequency Magnitude of exposure To determine if problems exist with these ‘Other’ activities…


4. Training: 4. Training Train Nursing Assistants and Other Workers at Risk of Injury Charge Nurses & Supervisors Designated Program Managers


OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes: OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes Training Recommendations for Nursing Assistants and Other Workers at Risk of Injury


OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes: OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes  Training for Nursing Assistants and Other Workers at Risk of Injury NH Policies & Procedures to follow to avoid injury, including proper work practices & use of equipment NH Procedures for reporting work-related injuries & illnesses as required by OSHA


OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes: OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes  Training for Nursing Assistants and Other Workers at Risk of Injury How to recognize Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and their early detection Advantages of addressing early indications of MSDs before serious injury develops


What are MSD’s?: What are MSD’s? Injuries and illnesses affecting muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints or spine Some common MSD’s are: De Quervain’s disease Epicondylitis Rotator Cuff Syndrome Sciatica Carpal Tunnel Syndrome


Causes of Workplace MDS’s: Causes of Workplace MDS’s Exposure to: Repetition Forceful Exertions Awkward Postures Contact Stress Vibration


Musculoskeletal Disorders: Musculoskeletal Disorders Lifting and moving Patients can also lead to MSDs  MSDs can happen two ways: Develop gradually and get worse over time (cumulative trauma) Result from a single event (lifting a very heavy Patient)


Musculoskeletal Disorders: Musculoskeletal Disorders How do you know if you’re developing a MSD? Pain that won’t go away Joints won’t move easily Swelling  


Signs & Symptoms of MSDs: Signs & Symptoms of MSDs Decreased gripping strength Decreased range of motion Loss of muscle function Inability to complete daily tasks Pain in wrists, shoulders, forearms, knees Fingers/toes turning white


Signs & Symptoms of MSDs: Signs & Symptoms of MSDs Back or neck pain Stiffness Painful joints Pain, tingling or numbness in hands or legs Shooting or stabbing pain in arms or legs Swelling or inflammation Burning sensation


Musculoskeletal Disorders: Musculoskeletal Disorders To prevent serious injury… If you think you may be developing a MSD, take care of it NOW! Use lifting equipment to reduce or eliminate the need for lifting Patients and possibly hurting yourself!


Consequences of not reporting promptly: Consequences of not reporting promptly If you have signs & symptoms that are not reported early, permanent disability may result. Employers are required to respond promptly to those reports.


OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes: OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes Training Recommendations for Charge Nurses & Supervisors


Training for Charge Nurses & Supervisors: Training for Charge Nurses & Supervisors Reinforce safety program at facility Oversee reporting guidelines & implement ergonomic recommendations Ensure proper staff work practices Responses to injury reports


OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes: OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes Training Recommendations for Designated Program Managers


Training for Designated Program Managers: Training for Designated Program Managers Problem identification via checklists, injury data analysis Selection of proper equipment & work practices Assist workers implement solutions Evaluate effectiveness of ergonomics


You Have Help!: You Have Help! This Training Program VA Patient Care Resource Guide: Safe Patient Handling & Movement VA Technology Resource Guide www.patientsafetycenter.com


You Have Help!: You Have Help! OSHA Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes www.osha.gov/ergonomics/guidelines/nursinghome/index.html OSHA website www.osha.gov OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialists in OSHA area offices


You Have Help!: You Have Help! OSHA Regional Office in Atlanta, GA OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Educational Resource Center Cal/OSHA “A Back Injury Prevention Guide for Health Care Providers” (www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/ backinj.pdf)