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Hospital safety initiative reduces back injuries

Hospital Safety Connection, July 18, 2003

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A safety program begun last year by Glens Falls (NY) Hospital has successfully helped the facility reduce employee injuries associated with improper lifting and handling techniques.

Since introducing the program in January 2002, the hospital has reduced its workers compensation costs related to patient handling injuries by 45%, a cost savings of nearly $125,000. Glens Falls Hospital cut its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable patient handling injuries in half, from 14 in 2002 to seven in the first quarter of 2003.

The average direct cost of a workers compensation case involving a back injury can range between $5,000 and $8,000, according to Ron Zimmerman, safety director at Glens Falls Hospital.

Dubbed Healthy Moves, the ergonomics program uses a collection of lifting devices and low-friction transfer sheets in patient care units and the hospital's emergency care center. The nearly two dozen rechargeable battery-powered and manual lifting devices and 200 Maxislide transfer sheets allow a single nurse to handle patient lifting and transferring situations that normally require multiple nurses.

The hospital requires all employees and new hires-nurses, physical therapists, medical imaging technicians, and patient transport staff-to participate in training on the proper use of the new equipment. Lifting device manufacturer ARJO supports the program, and provides a nurse to visit monthly and observe the use of the machines.

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