Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program SRH Workshop Module 3

Principles of Safe Lifting Speaker’s notes: P. 33 in the participant’s manual Copy of the small, laminated card referred to as the Resident Handling Reminder Card that should be provided to each participants; the card lists the principles of safe lifting and can be attached to the different types of clips used for ID, etc. for continued reference by participants while on the job.

Module 3: Objectives At the end of this module you should be able to: List the eight principles of safe lifting. Describe how the eight principles of safe lifting apply to resident handling. Adapt the principles of safe lifting to resident handling situations. Recognize when a resident handling task may need to be adjusted based on the principles of safe lifting.

Principles of Safe Lifting Plan Your Move Assess the resident Assess the work area Assess the need for help or assistance Check the equipment Speaker’s notes: P. 34 in the participant’s manual Resident handling key teaching points: Planning ahead before you interact with residents. This includes: reviewing the status of residents when you start your shift to determine if their physical or cognitive status has changed since your last shift, assessing what equipment and assistance you will require to perform the resident transfers during your shift, ensuring the equipment is available and close at hand; and, recognize any challenges that the layout of the resident’s room, associated furniture and equipment could pose to compromise your safety.

Principles of Safe Lifting Strong Foundation Get yourself into the “Power Position” Use the strong muscles in your legs & butt Ensure: your feet are shoulder width apart your butt is in the squat position Speaker’s notes: P. 35 in the participant’s manual Key point: Creating a strong foundation using your feet, legs and butt.

Principles of Safe Lifting Centre of Gravity Achieve postures that keep you in balance over your center of gravity Key to maintaining balance: Keep head up Ensure the load is close to center of gravity Speaker’s notes: P. 35 in the participant’s manual Key point: Stay balanced over your center of gravity before and during every resident handling task.

Principles of Safe Lifting Big Jobs call for Big Muscles Create a strong foundation and stay in balance Maintain the “Power Position” Avoid using the smaller muscles in the neck, upper back, shoulders and arms If possible, manage the load at waist height Speaker’s notes: P. 36 in the participant’s manual Key point: Focus on using the big muscles in our legs and butt before and during every resident handling task; Remember! Big Jobs = Big Muscles

Principles of Safe Lifting Get a Grip! Use the “power grip” Keep palms up and wrists as straight as possible Speaker’s notes: P. 36 in the participant’s manual Key point: Using a powerful grip with your palms up and your wrists as straight as possible. For safe resident handling, using a power grip reduces the risk of injury to both the caregiver and the resident.

Principles of Safe Lifting Reduce Friction Use a slider sheet Have the resident help (if appropriate) Speaker’s notes: P. 37 in the participant’s manual Key points: Friction requires our muscles to use more force to overcome....which can place those muscles at risk of getting hurt. We can use devices such as transfer sheets to reduce this friction which is often created by resident’s clothing and the sheets on their beds. Getting the resident to help, if appropriate, is beneficial in that: It’s good exercise for the resident; It’s good for the resident to feel as independent as possible; Muscle memory-if resident’s don’t use their muscles as much as possible, they’ll continue to lose muscle memory How can the resident help? Push off of the surface they are being transferred from with their arms (on the bed, on their thighs, on the arms of a chair/wheelchair) Use their leg/legs to help push themselves up in bed or to roll over in bed Slider sheets are just one example of tools that can be used to reduce friction during resident handling activities, what are some other tools? Slide/transfer boards: used to bridge the gap between two surfaces such as between: bed & wheelchair; wheelchair & toilet, chair & wheelchair Turning discs used for standing pivots with residents who are stable & able to balance or pivoting seated residents – typically for transfers between wheelchair & bed/chair One way slider cushions for use when repositioning a resident in a wheelchair

Principles of Safe Lifting Communicate! Communicate with your co-worker Communicate with the resident Report errors, near misses and mistakes Report equipment malfunction Update the Resident Assessment form Speaker’s notes: P. 37 in the participant’s manual Key points: Talk to the resident and your co-workers before, during and after every resident handling task Plan your move: talk to your co-worker about the move, what count you will use, who will count, what movement the count will be performed on (each weight shift or when weight is on the right or left leg only), when the count will start, which direction are you moving the resident, etc.

Principles of Safe Lifting Stick to the Script 1. Plan Your Move 2. Strong Foundation 3. Centre of Gravity 4. Big Jobs = Big Muscles 5. Get a Grip! 6. Reduce Friction 7. Communicate 8. Stick to the Script! Speaker’s notes: P. 38 in the participant’s manual Key point: Review the cycle graphic to recap the ‘script’ Make an effort to follow these rules before undertaking every resident handling task no matter how small the job and your workplace will become a safer place.