Safe Patient Handling in Washington State

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Getting Started

1. Establish Committee

2. Train the Committee

3. Write SPH Policy

4. Assess Risks & Needs

5. Plan for Purchases

6. Evaluate SPH Program

About the Law

Steering Committee

Tools

Additional Resources

This website will be continually updated - So be sure to visit frequently

Additional Resources for Developing
a Safe Patient Handling Program

We have compiled a non-comprehensive list of helpful websites and resources from others who have been through the process of developing safe patient handling programs, conducting safe patient handling assessments, and performing safe patient handling program evaluations.

DEVELOPING THE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING PROGRAM


National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):  Slideshow, “Review of Safe Patient Handling and Movement Principles”: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/safe-patient/

This draft presentation was developed by NIOSH, American Nurses Association and the Veteran's Health Administration's Patient Safety Center for use in training by schools of nursing.
Californian Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA): "A Back Injury Prevention Guide For Health Care Providers"

Highlights: Useful information for training the Safe Patient Handling Committee, assessing the risks and needs and planning for equipment acquisition.



de Castro, A.B. (September 30, 2004). "Handle With Care: The American Nurses Association’s Campaign to Address Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders" Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. #9 No. #3:  http://www.nursingworld.org/ojin/topic25/tpc25_2.htm

Highlights: Useful information for training the Safe Patient Handling Committee

Occupational Health & Safety Agency for Healthcare in British Columbia (OHSAH) website:  http://www.ohsah.bc.ca/EN/1044/

Highlights:
1.  Patient/Resident Ceiling Lift Program Guide
2.  Ceiling Lift Literature Review

Interior Health Authority of BC: “A Practical Guide to Resident Handling”

Highlights: Useful information for training the Safe Patient Handling Committee and writing a safe patient handling policy (page 13).

New South Wales Department of Health: “Policy and Best Practice Guidelines for the Prevention of Manual Handling Incidents in New South Wales Health”

Highlights: Useful information for training the Safe Patient Handling Committee, assessing risk and needs and planning for the acquisition of equipment. See pg.56 for a list of patient moving aids.

Patient Safety Center of Inquiry (Tampa, FL), Veteran’s Health Administration and Department of Defense: “Annex Patient Care Ergonomics Resource Guide: Safe Patient Handling and Movement” (Part 1) and (Part 2)

Klass, Hillarie: Getting to a Zero Lift Policy,  October 2001. The Safe Angle, 3(3), pp. 2-3.


Washington State Safe Patient Handling Steering Committee:  
Safe Patient Handling in Washington Hospitals: Your guide to a safe healthcare environment.

A webcast presentation was developed to help hospitals understand the requirements of the new law and provide information establishing a safe patient handling environment.
 
ASSESSING THE RISKS AND NEEDS 



WorkSafe BC:  "Handle With Care, Patient Handling and the Application of Ergonomics Requirements"


Ontario Safety Association for Community & Healthcare (OSACH), “A Planning Guide for the Implementation of Client Mechanical Lifts”

Highlights: See Appendices B, C-H for needs assessment tools

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): The ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for Lifting. 

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) is a private, not-for-profit association dedicated to promoting health and safety in the workplace.  The Lifting TLV tables, based on the frequency and duration, have been developed as guidelines to assist in the control of lifting hazards associated with work-related low back and shoulder disorders.  The ACGIH Statement of Position Regarding the TLVs and BEIs provides information on the proper use of the TLVs.

NOTE: These tables were not developed specifically for lifting patients but may provide guidance.
 

SAFE PATIENT HANDLING EQUIPMENT


The Workers’ Compensation Board of BC (Work Safe BC): http://www2.worksafebc.com/Portals/HealthCare/ceilingliftresources.asp?from=healthcare.healthandsafetycentre.org

Highlights: A list of ceiling lift resources.


Occupational Health & Safety Agency for Healthcare in British Columbia (OHSAH):
http://www.ohsah.bc.ca/EN/1044/


Highlights:

1.  Sample documents related to equipment acquisition
2.  Evaluation of the George Pearson Repositioning Draw Sheet
3.  Evaluation of Portable Ceiling Lifts for Patient Handling in Diagnostic Imaging 


Interior Health Authority of BC: “Ceiling Lift Track Implementation Manual”

VISN 8 Patient Safety Center of Inquiry in Tampa or of the Veterans Health Administration: Technology Resource Guide

Contains an unendorsed list of different types of lifting devices and various manufacturers that carried the patient lift equipment at one point in time.
 
EVALUATION OF SAFE PATIENT HANDLING PROGRAMS 




Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and the Lifting in Health Care Task Force:  "Lifting Patients/Residents/Clients in Health Care, Washington State 2005".


The final report presented to the Washington State Legislature House Commerce and Labor Committee, examining the lifting programs and policies in the health care industry in Washington State.


Nelson, A. & Baptiste, A. (September 30, 2004): "Evidence-Based Practices for Safe Patient Handling and Movement" Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. #9 No. 3:  www.nursingworld.org/ojin/topic25/tpc25_3.htm

Highlights: Information on Safe Patient Handling Committee training and risk/needs assessment.

Whitepaper on Strategies to Improve Patient and Health Care Provider Safety in Patient Handling and Moving Tasks.

A collaborative effort of the American Physical Therapy Association, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses and Veterans Health Administration.


 
 
LONG-TERM CARE:


U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA: “HealthCare Wide Hazards Module” http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/ergo/ergo.html

Highlights: Useful information regarding training the Safe Patient Handling Committee and planning for the acquisition of equipment.

 

We want to hear from you!

This website is maintained by volunteer members of Washington's Safe Patient Handling Steering Committee.  We need your help to make sure it is current and contains all necessary information. 

If you know of any resources that should be added to the site please email them to the committee.  Also, if your hospital has developed any safe patient handling tools or processes that could benefit others trying to get started, we'd like to post it on the website. Please email these resources as well as any questions you may have to the safe patient handling committee: sph@washingtonsafepatienthandling.com.

For questions or comments about this site please contact
Washington's Safe Patient Handling Steering Committee at sph@washingtonsafepatienthandling.com.

     
     
   

The Safe Patient Handling Steering Committee makes no representations or warranties as to the quality, content, nature, or reliability of the information contained in this website, including but not limited to its currency, accuracy, or completeness.  You expressly agree that use of this site, including all content or date distributed by, downloaded, or accessed from or through this site, is at your own risk.