1. Managing Ergonomics Issues in Nursing Homes
Dinu Chacko
INDH 5335-Ergonomic Methods & Analysis Techniques

2. Ergonomic exposures Different high risk tasks/activities include:
Manually lifting and moving patients or residents, bending to assist resident feeding, bending whilst making, moving or adjusting beds, assisting with bathing of resident.

3. Ergonomic exposures ..contd.
Heavy tasks in the laundry room like lifting, transporting or folding laundry, loading and unloading washing machines and dryers, lifting heavy detergent containers.
Other possible exposures are in kitchen, front office etc.

4. Potential syndromes and its Causes
Most common is Low back Pain, from lifting patients, doing laundry etc
Pain in neck , upper back and arms from poorly designed nurses workstations – Carpal tunnel Syndrome, Tendinitis in the elbows and shoulders
High stress on knees, Patellar-femoral syndrome, from kneeling, squatting to mobilize residents

5. Predisposing factors Awkward posture Over exertion Contact Stress
Repetition

6. OSHA Guidelines for Nursing homes
OSHA recommends: Manual lifting of residents be minimized in all cases and eliminated when feasible.
Employers implement an effective ergonomics process that:
provides management support;
involves employees;
identifies problems;
implements solutions;
addresses reports of injuries;
provides training; and
evaluates ergonomics efforts.

7. Prevention methods and Fixes
For Lateral Transfer
Transfer from Sitting to Standing Position; Gait belts and powered devices

8. Prevention methods and Fixes
adaptive equipment to be independent with bathing
For lifting the residents: Ceiling mounted and portable devices
~ $100
~ $ $4000
~ $1300

9. Prevention methods and Fixes$

10. Cost justification
According to BLS( Bureau of Labor Statistics), nursing home workers are twice as likely as other workers to be injured on the job - $1 billion per year in Workers Compensation
Wyandot County Nursing Home in Upper Sandusky, Ohio – reported a single injury that resulted in workers’ compensation costs of $240,000, while acquiring 18 ceiling lifts, as well as portable total lifts, sit-stand lifts, a lift walker, and 58 electrically adjustable beds at a cost of approximately $150,000, around 100K diff
In fact, a major insurance provider estimates that for every dollar spent on a workplace injury, employers will spend another $3 to $5 on associated costs
Various health care and nursing homes reported a 35%-55% decline in expenses from lesser WC and lost work days, by implementing Ergo program in their institutions.

11. ROI and additional benefits
Positive returns on investment(ROI) - with payback periods often less than a year in many industries. (Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation [BWC], 2009)
Increased staff and patient safety
Increased staff productivity
Improved work quality
Increased staff satisfaction and retention

12. References
xtCareSafeGrant.pdf retrieved on 24 Oct 2016
nal_Hazards_in_Nursing_Homes/Nursing_Home_Hazards/retrieved on Oct 24th,2016
_guidelines.html retrieved on Oct 24th,2016 accessed on Oct 24th,2016
pers/Ergonomics%20for%20Health%20care%20-%20Jan% pdf