The Other 21st Century HealthCare Issue:
An Ergonomic Approach to Addressing Workplace Injuries
Marnie Myhre, MS, PT, CEA, Fairview Health Services
Abstract
Program Elements: Awareness
OSHA rates for employee injuries are
higher for healthcare than for any other
industry.Healthcarehasbeenidentified
by OSHA as having “a weak culture of
worker safety”. NIOSH, CDC, OSHA,
ANA and others have developed ergonomic
guidelines and tools to assist healthcare in
developing an effective ergonomic program.
However, employee injuries in healthcare
persist.Thispresentationidentifiesthe
essential components needed to facilitate
the development of an effective ergonomic
program for healthcare professionals.
Awareness of the problem
•Identificationofworker’sinjuries–
types, location
•Seniorlevelsupport
•Managersinvolvement/engagement
essential: Accident investigations
Objective:
The purpose is to give an overview of the
development of an effective, comprehensive,
ergonomic program for a large healthcare
system. The essential components are:
•identificationofinjuriesandcauses
•supportofuppermanagementand
employees
•designingandimplementinginterventions
for prevention and control of injuries
including awareness and training
•monitoringprogrameffectiveness
•conductingongoingimprovements
Program Elements: Keeping Employees at Work
Injury Reduction Strategy Groups:
These groups are formed with
departments that have high rates of
work related injuries with the goal
to work collaboratively with dept
leaders and staff to identify and
address issues of concern.
Program Elements: Proactive Approach
Ergonomic Involvement in Design:
•Involvedinallnewconstructionandremodels
•Developedergonomicdesignguidelinesforhospitalandclinicdepts.
•Involvedwithnewproductscommitteesoallnewequipment
evaluated prior to purchase
Minnesota Safe Patient Handling Legislation requires patient handling needs
assessment on all new health care construction and remodels
Safe Patient Handling Program:
Thepurposeistoimprovethequalityofpatientcareandreduceinjury
severityofpatientcarestaffthroughtheuseofequipmentforallpatient
handling and transferring needs. The program ensures the appropriate
patienthandlingequipmentisavailableandusedforallpatienthandling
and moving needs. We have experience a reduction of $845,013 of
work comp direct cost since the start of the program in 2007.
Falls and Slip Prevention Program:
DevelopedaprogrambasedonNIOSH’sSlip, Trip and Fall Prevention
for Healthcare Workers. We are working with each facility implementing
effective prevention measures.
Office Ergonomics:
Implemented ErgoAdvocate, an on-line office ergonomic program,
system-wide.Benefitsarestandardizationandexpansionofareas
served with less staff. Overall positive employee experience:
•Improvementincomfortandfitoftheirworkstation
•Reductioninneedforprofessionalcarefortheirdiscomfort
Ergonomic Assessments/Job
Coaching/Design:
Assessments of manual material
handling areas and job coaching for
those with concerns or upon return to work.
Physical and Mental Demands Analysis (PMDA):
Thesearealistingofthephysicalandmentalcomponentsrequiredforthejob.
ThePMDAsfacilitatethehiringandreturntoworkofemployeesensuringthey
have the capabilities to do the job.
Conclusion:
We are making a difference!
Work-related injuries are
down and awareness of injury
prevention, ergonomics and
accident investigation is up. New
areas to address to keep employees
safe and at work rise to the surface
and we expand our focus and
determine effective ways to address
eachissueastheyareidentified.