Managing Ergonomics Issues in Nursing Homes Dinu Chacko INDH 5335-Ergonomic Methods & Analysis Techniques

Ergonomic exposures Different high risk tasks/activities include: Manually lifting and moving patients or residents, bending to assist resident feeding, bending whilst making, moving or adjusting beds, assisting with bathing of resident.

Ergonomic exposures ..contd. Heavy tasks in the laundry room like lifting, transporting or folding laundry, loading and unloading washing machines and dryers, lifting heavy detergent containers. Other possible exposures are in kitchen, front office etc.

Potential syndromes and its Causes Most common is Low back Pain, from lifting patients, doing laundry etc Pain in neck , upper back and arms from poorly designed nurses workstations – Carpal tunnel Syndrome, Tendinitis in the elbows and shoulders High stress on knees, Patellar-femoral syndrome, from kneeling, squatting to mobilize residents

Predisposing factors Awkward posture Over exertion Contact Stress Repetition

OSHA Guidelines for Nursing homes OSHA recommends: Manual lifting of residents be minimized in all cases and eliminated when feasible. Employers implement an effective ergonomics process that: provides management support; involves employees; identifies problems; implements solutions; addresses reports of injuries; provides training; and evaluates ergonomics efforts.

Prevention methods and Fixes For Lateral Transfer Transfer from Sitting to Standing Position; Gait belts and powered devices

Prevention methods and Fixes adaptive equipment to be independent with bathing For lifting the residents: Ceiling mounted and portable devices ~ $100 ~ $1500 - $4000 ~ $1300

Prevention methods and Fixes $ 1000-5000

Cost justification According to BLS( Bureau of Labor Statistics), nursing home workers are twice as likely as other workers to be injured on the job - $1 billion per year in Workers Compensation Wyandot County Nursing Home in Upper Sandusky, Ohio – reported a single injury that resulted in workers’ compensation costs of $240,000, while acquiring 18 ceiling lifts, as well as portable total lifts, sit-stand lifts, a lift walker, and 58 electrically adjustable beds at a cost of approximately $150,000, around 100K diff In fact, a major insurance provider estimates that for every dollar spent on a workplace injury, employers will spend another $3 to $5 on associated costs Various health care and nursing homes reported a 35%-55% decline in expenses from lesser WC and lost work days, by implementing Ergo program in their institutions.

ROI and additional benefits Positive returns on investment(ROI) - with payback periods often less than a year in many industries. (Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation [BWC], 2009) Increased staff and patient safety Increased staff productivity Improved work quality Increased staff satisfaction and retention

References https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/downloads/brochureware/publications/E xtCareSafeGrant.pdf retrieved on 24 Oct 2016 http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Your_Industry/Healthcare_Sector/Occupatio nal_Hazards_in_Nursing_Homes/Nursing_Home_Hazards/retrieved on Oct 24th,2016 https://www.osha.gov/ergonomics/guidelines/nursinghome/final_nh _guidelines.html retrieved on Oct 24th,2016 accessed on Oct 24th,2016 http://www.alimed.com/_resources/common/userfiles/file/Whitepa pers/Ergonomics%20for%20Health%20care%20-%20Jan%202011.pdf