One major source of injury to healthcare workers is musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In 2010, nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had the highest rates of MSDs. There were 27,020 cases, which equate to an incidence rate (IR) of 249 per 10,000 workers, more than seven times the average for all industries. This compares to the all-worker days-away-from-work rate of 34 per 10,000 workers. The rate for construction laborers was 85.0, and for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, the IR was 154.9, still far lower than that of nursing aides and orderlies. Trends and Causes In 2010, the average incidence rate for musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) cases with days away from work increased 4 percent, while the MSD incidence rate for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants increased 10 percent. These injuries are due in large part to overexertion related to repeated manual patient handling activities, often involving heavy manual lifting associated with transferring and repositioning patients and working in extremely awkward postures. High-Risk Tasks Some examples of patient handling tasks that may be identified as high-risk include: Transferring from toilet to chair Transferring from chair to bed Transferring from bathtub to chair Repositioning from side to side in bed Lifting a patient in bed Repositioning a patient in a chair Making a bed with a patient in it
One major source of injury to healthcare workers is musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In 2010, nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had the highest rates of MSDs. There were 27,020 cases, which equate to an incidence rate (IR) of 249 per 10,000 workers, more than seven times the average for all industries. This compares to the all-worker days-away-from-work rate of 34 per 10,000 workers. The rate for construction laborers was 85.0, and for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, the IR was 154.9, still far lower than that of nursing aides and orderlies.
Trends and Causes In 2010, the average incidence rate for musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) cases with days away from work increased 4 percent, while the MSD incidence rate for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants increased 10 percent.
These injuries are due in large part to overexertion related to repeated manual patient handling activities, often involving heavy manual lifting associated with transferring and repositioning patients and working in extremely awkward postures.
High-Risk Tasks Some examples of patient handling tasks that may be identified as high-risk include:
Transferring from toilet to chair
Transferring from chair to bed
Transferring from bathtub to chair
Repositioning from side to side in bed
Lifting a patient in bed
Repositioning a patient in a chair
Making a bed with a patient in it
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Understand patient safety principles, standards, and regulatory requirements in healthcare settings. Identify potential patient safety hazards and implement risk mitigation strategies. Apply effective communication, reporting, and documentation practices to prevent errors and adverse events. Develop and maintain patient safety programs, including staff training, monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Healthcare Facility Managers Clinical & Nursing Staff Patient Safety Coordinators Safety Supervisors & Coordinators Industrial Hygienists Risk Management & Compliance Personnel Collateral Duty Safety Personnel Program Administrators Line Supervisors & Team Leads Environmental Services & Support Staff Healthcare Educators & Trainers Hospital Operations & Compliance Personnel
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