Tools and Tips

Sept 2019
The Facts About Ergonomics: Dispelling Myths

There is a lot of misinformation about ergonomics. Musculoskeletal injuries sideline thousands of workers every year and cost billions of dollars in lost time and workers’ compensation costs. Regardless, there are still skeptics questioning whether ergonomics is a science and the application of an ergonomics program/process can result in the reduction of these injuries and related negative outcomes. It is and it can, as the case studies on the ASPHP website demonstrate.

The Ergonomics Committee of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) developed a position statement entitled Ergonomics Reference Document is 2011 to refute the misinformation. I led the effort of the committee to develop that document, and an update of it with the subject title in May of 2019. The AIHA Board approved and posted it recently to their website. It is available for review here.

Facts-About-Ergonomics-Dispelling-Myths-Position-Statement

April 2016
Healthcare Recipient Sling and Lift Hanger Bar Compatibility Guidelines

Download Guidelines here

2016 Health Care Workers’ Compensation Barometer Report
The third edition of Aon’s biennial Health Care Workers’ Compensation Barometer report, which explores trends in frequency, severity and overall loss rates related to workers’ compensation in the health care industry. The report finds that for the 2017 accident year, health care systems will face a complex environment of emerging risks that will have a direct impact on workers’ compensation.

Click here to visit the website to learn more and download the report.

On June 8, 2016 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and OSHA issued a joint letter (click here) to introduce a series of 7 training modules they have developed and are making available to assist homecare agencies and their trainers. The seven modules include:

· Introduction to Homecare Health and Safety
· Reducing Strains, Sprains and Falls
· Reducing Risk from Environmental Exposures
· Reducing Exposure to Bloodborne and Other Infectious Diseases
· Staying Safe When Working With Clients With Dementia
· Setting Healthy and Safe Boundaries to Reduce Stress; and
· Safely Handling Threatening Behavior When Providing Homecare.

We have highlighted the second module that addresses safe patient handling and mobility. For more information, go to the following link
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2015-102/module2.html
Download PDF

OSHA Quick Tips on SPHM
This 2-page document is a good educational piece that summarizes how to recognize the risk associated with patient handling and methods to reduce/control that risk. It is akin to a Readers Digest version of the ANA SPHM standard! It is a recommended read for all healthcare employees and employers where patient handling is performed.These Quick Tips were developed through an alliance between the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and OSHA.

Download  OSHA Quick Tips on SPHM