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On the worker’s side of this issue, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing assistants have the highest incidence for occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in the private sector of all laborers, including jobs like construction workers and truck drivers. The 2015 incidence rate for nursing assistants’ non-fatal injury and illness is 327.8 days per 10,000 full time workers. Of this number there were 171 cases per 10,000 full time workers with sprains or strains, classified as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Overexertion, repeated heavy lifting, accounts for a third of all MSDs for nursing assistants.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has studied this problem and has developed recommendations and guidelines to help protect workers from low back pain and disability. Dr. Thomas Waters, a research safety engineer at NIOSH, has developed a formula that calculates the amount of weight a person can safely lift repeatedly. He recommends a 35 pound weight limit for patient-handling tasks and when weight to be lifted exceeds this limit assistive devices should be used.
Risk Management Strategy
The issues surrounding resident mobility have far reaching significance for both resident and employee safety. The human and financial cost of resident and employee injuries will continue to grow as acuity levels rise and demand for aging services increases over time. These facts together with the projected growth of an aging population makes this topic an important priority for the senior living industry as they look to manage risk and provide quality care and services.
Willis Towers Watson’s Senior Living Practice has developed a comprehensive safe resident moving and handling program designed to provide the information and tools needed to customize a program that fits state regulations, resident population and company culture. We offer guidelines and sample tools to evaluate each resident’s capability, training, staff validation and can offer suggestions for newer, less obtrusive assistive equipment.
The major components of a Safe Resident Handling and Movement Program should include:
• Resident mobility assessment protocols /guidelines • Clearly defined transfer status classifications • Techniques to safely transfer and move your residents • Proper use of gait belts (not to be used to lift residents) • Assistive devices: soft goods, mechanical and non- mechanical devices
• Comprehensive employee training program • Observation program with positive reinforcement and coaching component
• A method to track and review the use of equipment
We conduct an assessment of each client in order to best respond to their needs in helping to implement all components of the program based on their readiness to adapt a “no lift” policy. By adopting this policy they understand that “no lift” does not mean “no assist”. Manual moving and handling assistance is based on resident assessment regarding the amount of physical exertion the caregiver has to provide. Once the weight limit of 35 pounds is exceeded, the moving and handling assistance is done with the help of device(s). Understanding this important difference is critical in successfully adopting the program.
As stated earlier, one of the most compelling reasons to implement a safe resident handling and movement program is the high rate of work-related strain and sprain injuries to caregivers associated with resident handling tasks. By establishing baseline data regarding a company’s workers compensation loss information, we are able to track the impact of the program implementation on their claim experience.
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