DepartmentofLabor&Industry

WorkplaceSafetyConsultation

May2012

Safe PatientHandling Update

Hospitals
Indemnityclaimsinvolvingpatienthandlingaccountedfor35%ofallindemnityclaimsclosedin2011and41%ofthe costsofthoseclaims.Averagebenefitsforpatienthandlinginjuryclaimsclosedin2011were$28,000foratotal costof$13.2million. AnalysisofOSHAlogsfrom2007to 2011forasampleof24hospitals shows: Decreasingratesfortotal recordablecases,daysawayfrom work(DAFW)cases,DAFWdays, backDAFWcases,andback DAFWdays. Decreasingratesforbackcases amongRNs,LPNs,andCNAs. Backinjurieswere73%ofcasesin 2007,60%ofcasesin2011. Asurveyofpatienthandling equipmentandprogram implementationshows: Ratechangeswerenotrelatedto theamountofequipmentorto resistancetotheuseofequipmentfromstafforpatients. Ratedecreaseswerenotrelatedtosupportandparticipationfromadministrators,staffandtheSafePatient Handlingcommittee.

Nursing Homes
Indemnityclaimsinvolvingpatienthandlingaccountedfor47%ofallindemnityclaimsclosedin2011and43%ofthe costsofthoseclaims.Averagebenefitsforpatienthandlinginjuryclaimsclosedin2011were$21,600foratotal costof$9.5million. AnalysisofOSHAlogsfrom2007to2011 forasampleof82nursinghomesshows: Decreasingratesfortotal recordablecases,DAFWcases, DAFWdays,backDAFWcasesand days. Decreasingratesfortotalcasesand backcasesamongnursing assistants. Backinjurieswere67%ofcasesin 2007,64%ofcasesin2011. Asurveyofpatienthandlingequipment andprogramimplementationshows: Ratedecreaseswerenotrelatedto theamountofequipment. Rateincreaseswererelatedto reportedresistancetoequipmentusebynursingassistants. RatedecreaseswererelatedtosupportandparticipationfromstaffandtheSafePatientHandlingcommittee.

(MinnesotaandU.S.caseratesusedinfiguresarefromtheannualSurveyofOccupationalInjuriesandIllnesses,U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics.)

DepartmentofLabor&Industry

WorkplaceSafetyConsultation

May2012

Tools for Effective SafePatient Handling Programs

Network with other facilities. Learn from each other, compare progress and programs, training sessions, how to improve SPH committees, gaining support from administrators. You are not in this alone. Train yourself or seek a SPH champion in your facility, someone responsible to make sure the SPH plan is implemented, Contact Workplace Safety Consultation everything gets done, and wont accept Workplace Safety Consultation excuses. Minnesota Department of Labor and There is a growing body of literature about Industry successful programs to reduce injuries 443 Lafayette Road N. among health care workers. One or more St. Paul, MN 55155-4311 people in your facility need to learn about the effective methods and transfer the Phone (651) 284-5060 research into practice. Your SPH committee Toll-free 1-800-657-3776 can learn about the latest research TTY: (651) 297-4198 together. Email: osha.consultation@state.mn.us Bring in a professional safety Web site: www.dli.mn.gov/Wsc.asp consultant/ergonomist/SPH specialist. Improve your OSHA recordkeeping skills. An effective, high quality measurement program is essential to evaluate your SPH progress. Learn about your facilitys SPH injuries and track the changes. Your OSHA log injury descriptions should distinguish between injuries due to patient/resident handling, injuries as a result of patient/resident falls, and injuries due to patient/resident violence.