1. Nursing Assistant Chapter 9: Workplace Safety

2. PROTECTING YOUR BODY  Nursing assistants are twice as likely to be injured on the job than other health care workers  Ergonomics  The practice of designing equipment and work tasks to conform to the capability of the worker.  Adjusting the environment and work related practices to prevent injury  Force: the amount of physical effort that is required to perform a task  Repetition: the same motion, or series of motions, are performed continually or frequently  Awkward postures: assuming a position that places stress on the body, such as, reaching above shoulder height, kneeling, squatting, leaning over a bed, or twisting the torso while lifting

3. PROTECTING YOUR BODY  OSHA recommends that workers should be provided with ergonomics training  OSHA recommends that manual lifting of residents in long-term care should be minimalized in all cases and eliminated whenever possible  Specific training for your facility and equipment

4. PROTECTING YOUR BODY  The “ABC’s” of Good Body Mechanics  The efficient movement and use of the body  Alignment  Good posture  Back held at “neutral” position  Connect ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle with vertical line  Connect nose, sternum, navel, and space between legs evenly in half

5. PROTECTING YOUR BODY  Balance  Stability produced by even distribution of weight  Hold center of gravity close to base of support  You can increase base of support by spreading feet farther apart  You can bring center of gravity closer by bending your knees and hips  Coordinated body movement  Using body weight to help with movement

8. PROTECTING YOUR BODY  Lifting and Back Safety  Lifting is a required task for nursing assistants  Back injuries are the most common work-related injuries in the nursing field  Range from muscle strains and soreness to ruptured vertebral discs  Back injuries can be career ending  Good body mechanics and technique is required  Muscles of arms and legs are connected to long bones  Designed to lift and bear weight  Muscles of back are flat and “fan-like”  Not designed to lift weight  Back supports

9. FOLLOWING PROCEDURES  Pre-Procedure Actions  Wash  Gather  Knock  Identify  Explain  Provide Privacy  See to Safety

10. FOLLOWING PROCEDURES  Post-procedure actions  Confirm  Leave  See to Safety  Open  Wash  Report and Record

11. PREVENTING FALLS  Be aware of surroundings  Only move as fast as you are safely able  Cautious of wet floors  Clean up spills  Place signs in the area  Eliminate objects in your path  Electrical cords  Furniture  Keep hallways clear  Adequate lighting

12. PREVENTING FALLS  Help patients that are weak, unsteady, or uncooperative  Ask for help

13. PREVENTING CHEMICAL INJURIES  Many chemicals used in the health care setting  most are harmless, but some can be very dangerous  OSHA requires employers to maintain a list of ALL chemicals used in the facility  MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)  Summarizes key information about the chemical, what to do in case of exposure, and how to clean up a spill  Must be renewed every 3 years  Must be readily available

14. PREVENTING ELECTRICAL SHOCKS  Many electrical appliances used in health care  Always used grounded appliances and power strips  Keep eye out for frayed wires, and cut cords  Appropriately use extension cords  Limit personal electronics  Watch for moisture

16. FIRE SAFETY  Out of control fire can have tragic consequences  Hundreds of people  Many who cannot help themselves  Preventing Fires  For a fire to occur, three elements must be present:  Fuel  Heat  Oxygen

17. FIRE SAFETY

18.  Fuel  Cloth, such as bed linene, mattresses, and clothing  Paper  Substances that easily catch fire and burn such as cooking oil, gasoline, nail polish remover, alcohol  The building itself

19. FIRE SAFETY  Heat  An electrical spark: shorted cord, piece of equipment, lightning  Lighted smoking materials: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc..  Lighted candles  Heating elements: radiators, heaters, furnaces, hotplates  Stoves

20. FIRE SAFETY  Oxygen  Found in air around us  Therapeutic, supplemental oxygen