REDUCING THE RISK - EQUIPMENT
Is suitable equipment and furniture readily available?
Furniture and equipment should be:
- easily adjustable
- compatible with other equipment
- easy to move
- well maintained
TROLLEYS
Two swivel castors at the same end as the handles are usually
sufficient; only use four if manoeuvering in a tight space. 
Increase the wheel size if a trolley is difficult to move.
Provide a braking system if ramps are negotiated.
A non-patient trolley should not be more than 1.3m long or 1m wide.
A trolley should not be more than 1.4m high otherwise it should be designed for pulling.
BEDS
Easy height adjustment by nursing staff.
Lockable castors on all legs operated by a single control with indication of locked position.
Sufficient access for operation of brake control.
Lightweight adjustable cot sides which allow sufficient clearance when lowered for patient handling equipment and clear access to the mattress for bedmaking.
Bedmaking involves significant stooping when the bed is too low.
Staff should be able to raise the bed height.
Indicate resident's bed height, eg. by a line on the wall, so
staff can easily lower the bed to it's previous position.
Inappropriate equipment increases strain.
Appropriate equipment can reduce the manual handling required.
Lowering the bed height to that of the chair enables staff to
slide the patient rather than lift.
CHAIRS
Lockable castors on all mobile chairs, recommended minimum diameter for shower chairs of 100mm.
Removable arms that drop down flush with the seat top or fold back in line with the back rest on all chairs.
Chair feet that move easily on the floor surface, eg. glides.
Compatible heights of different chairs.
Avoid deep arm chairs with a high back rest.
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Inappropriate furniture encourages poor work postures. Staff push or pull shower chairs backwards
because the castors are stiff, or the chair is unstable. This results in stopped and twisted postures.
Shower chairs should have a footrest, an anti-tilt mechanism and well-maintained castors. |
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Regular maintenance and repair of equipment is essential to ensure ease of use.
Are patient handling aids available and used?
Some aids help residents to transfer themselves independently or with minimal assistance.
Mechanical hoists are good for difficult or heavy transfers.
Patient handling aids can be unpopular with staff and residents. Good planning when buying a handling aid will help with it's acceptance. Managers must be actively involved in and supportive of new equipment. Here are some things you need to do.
BEFORE BUYING
Discuss the patient handling problem with staff.
Decide the right type of handling aid for your particular transfer problem.
Have a demonstration of the product by the supplier in your nursing home.
Make sure the furniture and workplace are compatible with the
proposed handling aid, eg. enough room under the bed for hoist
legs.
BEFORE USING
Staff need to practice using the equipment on each other before using it on the residents.
Decide which residents the handling aid should be used with and the correct technique for each person. Records this on the resident's care plan.
Talk to residents about the equipment to reassure them.
DURING ROUTINE USE
Make sure there is regular inspection and maintenance of the handling
equipment.
Store the equipment in an accessible place, near to where it is most frequently used.
Continue with Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Back Strain in Nursing Homes
Return to Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Back Strain in Nursing Homes Index
[Last Updated: May 1996 - Worksafe Western Australia]