Weekly Poll: Safe patient handling

Yes, I believe we need a law on providing more safety requirements for our Healthcare workers. Unfortunately, our healthcare facilities cut back on several things every budget cycle and safety supplies, equipment, or the program usually suffers. I would hope that every HCF continues with improving the safety of all Healthcare workers; albeit we must do better at waling the talk.

Another regulation would place more burdens on the healthcare facilities who are overwhelmed as it is. Healthcare workers are being injured because they are simply not following current safe patient handling techniques, or their backs are poorly conditioned. Why not implement a brief, effective back conditioning program promoted with some form of positive incentive. I have been treating injured healthcare workers for 23 years and many are injuring themselves performing other, non-strenuous activities.

Commenting on the comment made by Robert Shane, D.C.: Unfortunately your statements are a little outdated but still held by many. The fact is that NIOSH recommendations set the limit for safe patient lifting at 35 pounds. Even THAT is under IDEAL circumstances (patient is cooperative, patient able to be held close to caregivers body, etc.). Current studies have also shown that the physical condition of the caregiver is NOT a major indicator in whether or not the caregiver is likely to be injured. People in excellent physical condition are being injured at roughly the same rates as those in less desirable physical condition. The amount of force that the spine must endure during patient handling is the major driving factor in caregiver injury – and THAT is something that remains the same whether the caregiver is in good condition or not. I would expect a chiropractor to know this! The way to decrease these spinal forces is not through body mechanic training or through physical conditioning classes but rather with mechanizing the process…bringing in ceiling lifts and mobile floor lifts whenever possible to mobilize patients and therefore allow our caregivers to have longer, more productive careers with less likelihood of injury.

I have to agree with S.Rhodes comments. After a great deal of research for one of my nursing courses I have found that he average the statistics state that the average healthcare worker lifts 1.8 ton in and 8hr shift. Even the most physically fit individual will not be able to do this over a period of time. The reason most of us health care workers have chronic aches and pains is because of lifting and the Cumulative Trauma Disorder incurred by this activity.