#Workplace Safety
By Team Seaglass
It takes a special person to be a caregiver in today’s healthcare environment. A nurse’s compassionate qualities include kindness, gentleness, caring and helpfulness, and in general, serving others no matter what it takes. But “compassion” doesn’t have to include caregiver pain.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020, 17% of injuries in the healthcare industry result from musculoskeletal strains. An alarming 30% of Workers Compensation costs can be directly attributed to these types of injuries (Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index 2020). More nurses are leaving the profession than ever before, and many say their reason is from pain and injury. Are your caregivers working in pain too? The implementation of a Safe Patient Handling & Mobility Program can help management protect workers from injury while ensuring a high quality of care to patients.
When is it Okay for a caregiver to complete a manual lift?
The traditional approach of manual patient lifting using “safe body mechanics” has proven to be ineffective in controlling the frequency of nursing injuries.
The Revised NIOSH Lifting guidelines recognize that patients cannot be handled like the traditional box that simulates an ideal lifting load, and therefore, patients can’t be maneuvered like the traditional box in the NIOSH Lifting Equation. As a result, the traditional recommendation of 50 lbs being recognized as a “safe” lift is unrealistic due to:
| · Patients come in varying shapes and sizes | · Patients “do not” come with handles |
| · Patients may have physical restrictions | · Patient handling requires awkward caregiver positioning |
| · Patients may have varying cognitive abilities | · Patient behaviors can be unpredictable |
According to a NIOSH study, Dr. Thomas Waters and fellow researchers determined, through biomechanical analyses, the maximum weight that could safely be lifted by a caregiver, under ideal conditions, is 35 lbs. If you think about it, not even one leg on an average 200 lb. adult can safely be lifted. “NIOSH shares in the consensus among patient handling professionals that the goal of safe patient handling programs should be to eliminate all manual lifting whenever possible” (NIOSH, SPHM, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/safepatient/)
Newer evidence-based approaches using Safe Patient Handling & Mobility Policies (a.k.a. No-Lift Policies or Minimal Lift Policies) that utilize patient handling devices have shown great promise in reducing the high volume of musculoskeletal injuries in the healthcare industry. Using patient handling devices, like total body lifts, sit-to-stands, and friction reducing devices can significantly reduce the compressive forces commonly placed on the spine and shoulder that cause pain from manual handling.
(OSHA SPHM guide https://www.osha.gov/hospitals/patient-handling )
What devices can be used instead of manual lifting?
When caregivers recognize that a patient is unable to bear their own weight, then safe patient handling equipment should be considered. For example, patients with a dependent status (2-PA) will typically require a full body lift, whereas patients who are partial weight bearing (1-PA) may utilize sit-to-stand devices. There are several mobility screening guides available to help caregivers identify mobility levels and appropriate equipment: i.e. Mobility Screens- BMAT, Johns Hopkins HLM, VAMSST, etc. For further information on use of safe patient handling devices, please contact your vendor.
Helpful Hints for Developing a Successful Safe Patient Handling & Mobility Program
- Management commitment for support of this program is critical
- Establish a safe patient handling committee to implement program and monitor success/improvement needs
- Complete a patient hazard assessment to determine census mobility levels vs. equipment availability
- Purchase necessary equipment to meet the recommended 1:8 (patient/equipment) ratio
- Develop a No-Lift (or Minimal Lift) Policy
- Develop resident screening routine
- Provide caregiver training on equipment usage
For more information or guidance on the development of your own Safe Patient Handling & Mobility Program, contact your insurance agent and mention Seaglass Insurance Group for assistance: https://seaglassinsurance.com/