REDUCING THE RISK - PLANNING FOR PREVENTION

Some injury problems and solutions are obvious, others are more difficult to define and a number of different control measures may be available. You will need to set up a means of doing this effectively.

Here are suggested procedures for tackling workplace problems.

1. Set up a Back Injury Prevention Action Group (BIPAG).

Purpose:

• to identify problems from injury records and the hazard book
• to compare alternative control measures
• to set priorities for action
• to decide appropriate solutions
• to ensure control measures implemented are effective

Members:

• Director of Nursing
• Director of Administration
• Staff representatives from different areas, eg. nurses, cleaners, laundry and kitchen staff
• Physiotherapist

Direct involvement of the Director of Nursing is important. The BIPAG will discuss workplace problems and injury trends at regular meetings.

2. Appoint person(s) responsible for collecting more detailed information about problems that are difficult to resolve.

She/He may:

• use a checklist
• talk to staff working in that area
• get some expert advice, eg. from Independent Living Centre, physiotherapist, clinical instructor or maintenance staff.

3. Recommended control measures will be considered by the BIPAG and the proposed solution discussed with all staff.

4. The hazard book will be up-dated to record implemented control measures and the effectiveness of these will be monitored by the BIPAG.

REDUCING THE RISK - ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

This is an example of a form for reporting workplace injuries. It includes all the information needed by a nursing home to determine appropriate preventive strategies. It does not replace the Workers' Compensation Claim Form.

INJURY REPORT FORM Sections 1 to 4 should be completed by the injured person at the time of the injury. Section 5 should be completed by the BIPAG. 1. ACCIDENT OR CUMULATIVE INJURY Were you hurt as a result of an unexpected event? eg. did you trip, or bump into something, or catch a falling patient? Were you hurt without anything unusual happening? ie. carrying our routine work. 2. DETAILS OF INJURED PERSON Name Address Job Title Date of Birth 3. CIRCUMSTANCES OF INJURY What happened and where? Name of patient (if appropriate) Witness 4. DETAILS OF INJURY Type of injury Body part injured Date and time of injury Date and time ceased work SIGNATURE OF PERSONS INVOLVED .................................... DATE .......................... FORWARD TO PERSON IN CHARGE SIGNATURE OF PERSON IN CHARGE ..................................... DATE .......................... 5. OUTCOME OF INJURY Number of days lost Compensation paid Preventive action taken

SAMPLE PAGE FROM HAZARD BOOK

RISK CHECKLIST

POSTURE

1. Is frequent or prolonged stooping involved?

2. Is significant sideways twisting of the body involved?

3. Is reaching above shoulder height involved?

4. Is one-handed lifting or carrying involved?

EQUIPMENT

5. Is suitable equipment and furniture readily available?

6. Are patient handling aids available and used?

WORKPLACE LAYOUT

7. Is there adequate space for staff and equipment?

8. Are facilities designed to promote resident independence?

9. Are the floors slippery or uneven?

10. Is appropriate clothing available and used?

WORK ORGANISATION

11. Is the manual handling in the task necessary?

12. Is staff fatigue contributing to injury?

13. Is assistance available when needed?

14. Are safety policies and procedures documented and available to staff?

TRAINING

15. Is initial training provided for all new staff and in-service courses provided regularly?

16. Are practical handling techniques demonstrated in the workplace by trained staff?

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Legislation

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide employees with a safe and healthy work environment and employees to take reasonable care with their own safety and health at work and the safety and health of others.

Employers Shall:

• Ensure employees are not exposed to workplace safety and health hazards.
• Provide employees with adequate information, instruction and training.
• Consult with safety and health representatives and other employees about workplace health, safety and welfare.
• Where it is impracticable to prevent hazards, provide employees with adequate personal protective clothing and equipment.

Employees Shall:

• Take reasonable care of their own health and the health of others.
• Co-operate with employers in carrying out safety and health requirements.

Safety and Health Representatives

The Act entitles employees to elect safety and health representatives to represent and inform them on issues involving their safety, health and welfare, to consult with employers on resolving those issues, and to assist in their resolution.

Code of Practice for Manual Handling.
WorkSafe Western Australia Commission.

A working document providing practical information to meet the legislative requirements for identifying, assessing and controlling risks from manual handling.

Australian Standard 2569.1 - 1982 Guide to the lifting and moving of patients.
Part 1 - Safe manual lifting and moving of patients.

Australian Standard 2569.2 - 1987 Guide to the lifting and moving of patients.
Part 2 - Selection and use of mechanical aids for patient lifting and moving.

Videos - Safe Patient Handling, 1988
(VHS 12 mins each).
Good examples of various lifting techniques. Four tapes covering the following situations:

• moving a patient in bed
• moving a patient from bed to trolley
• moving a patient from bed to chair
• mechanical lifting devices

The handling of patients - a guide for nurse managers, 2nd Ed., 1987, Back Pain Association, Middlesex.

This excellent publication includes large clear drawings and covers the mechanics of the spine, techniques for handling patients and the use of aids.

Hoists and their use - C. Tarling 1980, William Heinemann, London in co-operation with Disabled Living Foundation.

This book is a good source of information about patient lifting devices and how to use them.

Hoists - Selection and use, M. Williams 1988, Independent Living Centre of WA, publication no. WAW 0150.

A good booklet covering the questions to be answered when choosing a hoist. It provides photos and specifications of many different commercially available hoists.

Australian Standard 1428.1 - 1988 Design for access and mobility.

Part 1 - General requirements for access-buildings. Specifies the requirements to permit general use of buildings and facilities by people with disabilities. It includes corridors, doorways, and sanitary facilities.

Manual handling in the health industry, WorkCare 1988.

Produced by the Department of Labour, Victoria. Good illustrations of preventive strategies that can be adopted by nursing staff, cleaners and other domestic staff to reduce risk of injury at work.

Copies of this publication are available from:

WorkSafe Western Australia
Westcentre, 1260 Hay Street
West Perth 6005 Tel (09) 327 8777
Fax (09) 321 8973

Return to Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Back Strain in Nursing Homes Index

[Last Updated: May 1996 - Worksafe Western Australia]