“No Lift” for Nursing Homes
The US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the nursing home industry's worker-injury rate was the 3rd highest among 84 industry groups in 2003, which is the most recent year of available data.
The US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the nursing home industry's worker-injury rate as 3rd highest among 84 industry groups in 2003, which is the most recent year of available data.
Presently the nursing home industry is not governed by standards set out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), who govern other high-risk industries, however efforts are being made to improve worker safety. The agency issued 2002 ergonomic guidelines for the nursing home industry; however nursing home owners and lobbyists, who considered them a step toward new regulations, criticized these unenforceable recommendations.
Without enforceable standards, OSHA has had to implement other incentives to protect workers against injury. For example, the Voluntary Protection Program allows employers with effective safety programs in place to be exempt from regular OSHA inspections.
"Ten years ago, we didn't even pay attention to nursing homes," said Rob Medlock, director of Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Cleveland-area office. "People thought, 'Nursing homes? They cared for my grandfather, I know they're good.'"
Caregivers who care for those who can’t care for themselves have an increased risk of injury. Nurses and nursing assistants, in particular, sustain injuries to their backs, necks and shoulders while lifting patients, not to mention the risks of combative patients.
The only way to completely prevent lift-related injuries is to eliminate the need for workers to bear the weight of the patients they care for. There are mechanical equipments such as overhead lifts and patient lifts that allow caregivers to assist in moving a patient without having to perform a manual lift. This equipment is costly, but necessary.
Less expensive non mechanical repositioning devices for performing surface to surface transfers are also available and have been known to reduce exposure to back injury by up to 50% by allowing caregivers to reposition patients without having to lift. By implementing a safe patient handling program today, injury costs can be reduced and the industry’s worker-injury rate can be minimized.