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2. Ergonomics Healthcare Workers Slide Show Notes
Welcome to ergonomics training for healthcare workers. This session is designed for all employees.
On the job, your body has to deal with a variety of stresses and strains that could lead to injuries unless you take proper precautions.
For example, your job may involve constant lifting, pushing, or pulling of heavy loads. Or it may involve awkward postures, such as working with your back or neck bent or twisted, or working with your hands above your head while trying to reach and clean high places. You may spend much of your day lifting and moving patients. Or your job may involve repetition—doing the same motion over and over for long periods each day, like keyboarding.
Any of these activities can lead to injuries that can interfere with your work and your personal life. Today, we’re going to talk about ergonomics, which is the study of the job hazards that cause these injuries. During the session, you’ll learn about the precautions you can take while you work to prevent this type of injury.

3. Session Objectives You will be able to:
Identify ergonomic risk factors in your job
Recognize musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) signs and symptoms
Lift and carry objects safely
Take other precautions specific to your job to prevent ergonomic injuries
Slide Show Notes
The main objective of this session is to make you aware of ergonomic hazards on the job and teach you the precautions you need to take to prevent injuries. By the time this session is over, you should be able to:
Identify ergonomic risk factors in your job,
Recognize the signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs,
Lift and carry objects safely,
And, take other precautions specific to your job to prevent ergonomic injuries.

4. What You Need to Know What ergonomics is and why it is important
What MSDs are and how you could be at risk
Symptoms of injuries and what to do about them
Safe lifting technique
Ergonomic safety precautions for each task you perform on the job
Slide Show Notes
During the session, we will discuss:
What ergonomics is and why it is important
What MSDs are and how you could be at risk
Symptoms of injuries and what to do about them
Safe lifting technique
Ergonomic safety precautions for each task you perform on the job

5. What Is Ergonomics and Why Is It Important?
Ergonomics fits jobs to people
It helps prevent injuries
Slide Show Notes
Let’s begin this session about ergonomics by asking two very important questions. First of all, what is ergonomics all about? And second, Why should you be concerned about it?
The answer to the first question is that ergonomics is the science of fitting jobs to the people who work in them. In other words, instead of trying to force people to do things on the job that could cause strain and pain, we redesign the job to make it more comfortable and safer to perform.
And that’s why ergonomics is something you need to know about. Understanding the basic principles of ergonomics will help you work more safely and avoid injuries. That’s the goal of ergonomics—to reduce work-related injuries caused by lifting, bending, and all the other physical exertion involved in your job.
Have you ever had an injury caused by physical overexertion? Or maybe you know a co-worker who has had such an injury.
Talk about ergonomic injuries that have occurred in your facility. Describe the type of work and the reason for the injury. Explain what has been done since then to try to prevent this type of injury.

6. Musculoskeletal Disorders
MSDs involve injuries to:
Muscles
Nerves
Tendons and ligaments
Joints
Cartilage
Slide Show Notes
When we talk about ergonomic injuries on the job, we’re talking about a very specific kind of injury known as a musculoskeletal disorder, or MSD. This kind of injury is called musculoskeletal disorder because it involves injury to:
Muscles, including strains and tears, particularly in the back, shoulders, and neck
Nerves, including pinched nerves in the back and neck, and inflammation of the nerves in the carpal tunnel at the wrists
Spinal discs, including herniated discs
Tendons and ligaments that connect muscles to the bones
Joints, like wrists, elbows, shoulders and knees, which can become inflamed
And cartilage, the stuff on the ends of bones and around joints that prevents the bones from grinding together and allows joints to move smoothly and painlessly

7. Major Risk Factors Repetition Force Awkward postures Contact stress
Vibration
Slide Show Notes
There are several major MSD risk factors include.
Repetition, or doing the same motions over and over, puts stress on muscles and tendons. The degree of risk relates to the number of repetitions, the speed of movement, the number of muscles involved, and the required force.
Force, or the amount of effort needed to perform a task or maintain control of equipment and tools, can also put wear and tear on body parts.
Awkward postures can also have a harmful effect on muscle groups. Postures that involve repeated or prolonged reaching, twisting, bending, kneeling, squatting, working with your hands over your head, or having to stay in any one position for long periods of time.
Contact stress, or pressing body parts against a hard or sharp edge, can put too much pressure on nerves, tendons, and blood vessels.
And finally, vibration from operating some power tools can lead to nerve damage.

8. MSD Hazards on the Job Housekeeping, laundry, and food service
Patient care
Maintenance
Central supply
Office
Slide Show Notes
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the jobs performed in healthcare facilities like ours, MSDs are among the most common types of work injury. For example:
Housekeeping, laundry, and food preparation and service tasks may include bending, stretching, kneeling, repetitive motions, heavy lifting, and pushing carts and other heavy items.
Patient care tasks may include repetitive motions, bending, a lot of standing, lifting and moving patients, and pushing wheelchairs, gurneys, or medical equipment.
Maintenance tasks may include repetitive motions, heavy lifting, pushing or pulling motions, awkward reaches, or the use of vibrating tools.
Central supply work often involves moving heavy materials, bending, reaching, stretching, and other physical exertions.
Office work may include hours on the computer, which means the repetitive motion of keyboarding. Office work also includes a lot of sitting and some bending and reaching as well.
Think about the MSD risks involved in your job.
Discuss MSD risks in the jobs trainees perform.

9. MSD Signs and Symptoms Back and neck: shooting pain, stiffness
Shoulders: pain, stiffness, loss of mobility
Arms and legs: shooting pain, numbness
Elbow and knee joints: pain, swelling, stiffness
Slide Show Notes
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of MSD-related injury helps prevent the problem from getting worse. It allows you to take steps to reduce your exposure and seek early medical treatment. An MSD can cause pain or swelling in a number of parts of the body. The type of pain you experience will vary depending on the type of MSD and the type of injuries you have suffered. For example:
You might experience shooting pain or prolonged stiffness in your back and neck;
You might have pain, stiffness, or loss of mobility in your shoulders;
Arms and legs might feel numb from time to time, or you might experience periods of shooting or stabbing pain;
And, your elbows and knee joints could be painful, swollen, stiff, or sore.

10. MSD Signs and Symptoms (cont.)
Hands and wrists: pain, swelling, numbness
Fingers: pain, loss of strength or mobility
Thumbs: pain at the base
Feet and toes: numbness, stiffness, burning sensation
Be sure to report any signs or symptoms of MSDs to your supervisor right away and seek prompt medical treatment
Slide Show Notes
Hands and wrists may experience numerous symptoms, including pain, swelling, tingling, numbness, coldness, burning sensation, or loss of strength and coordination.
Fingers may also experience a number of MSD-related symptoms, such as severe pain, snapping or jerking movements, loss of mobility, loss of strength, or a loss-of-feeling sensation.
You might experience pain at the base of the thumb.
Feet and toes could also develop MSD-related symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, coldness, stiffness, or a burning sensation.
Be sure to report any signs or symptoms of MSDs to your supervisor right away and seek prompt medical treatment. The sooner you get treated, the more likely you will be to make a complete recovery.
Emphasize the importance of reporting symptoms and seeking treatment. Explain facility procedures for reporting MSDs and for getting required treatment.

11. Basic MSD Prevention: Safe Lifting Technique
Plan your lift
Stand close to the load
Squat down
Get a firm grasp
Lift with your legs
Keep the object close to your body
Slide Show Notes
Improper lifting is a major cause of back injuries. A little later in the session, we’ll talk about lifting patients. But first, let’s talk about lifting objects safely to protect your back from pain and strain.
First, plan your lift. Check to make sure you can handle the weight. If not, ask for help or divide the load into smaller, lighter parts, if possible. Check your route, too, and make sure there are no obstructions in your path.
Next, stand close to the load with your feet spread about shoulder width apart. Place one foot slightly in front of the other for balance.
Then squat down, bending the knees—not your waist. Tuck your chin while keeping your back as straight as possible.
Get a firm grasp on the object before beginning the lift. Then slowly begin lifting by straightening your legs. Let your leg muscles—not your back muscles—do the work. Never twist your body during this step.
Once the lift is complete, keep the object as close to your body as possible. As the load’s center of gravity moves away from the body, there’s a dramatic increase in stress to your lower back.

12. Basic MSD Prevention: Safe Lifting Technique (cont.)
Carrying
Unloading
Slide Show Notes
Carrying and unloading a load correctly can contribute to an injury-free lift.
When carrying:
Make sure you can see over the load.
Move slowly, taking small steps.
To turn, move your feet in the direction you want to go, don’t twist your body.
When unloading:
Bend your knees and lower your body with the load.
Keep your back straight and let your leg muscles bear the weight.
Keep your fingers away from the bottom of the load as you place it down.
If you’re placing a load on an elevated surface, lower it to the edge, then slide it back.
Do you routinely practice safe lifting on the job?
Demonstrate the safe lifting, carrying, and unloading techniques described in this and the previous slide.

13. MSD Risks and Basic Prevention
Do you understand the information presented so far?
Slide Show Notes
Now it’s time to ask yourself if you understand the information presented so far.
Do you understand what we’ve said about ergonomic risks on the job?
Do you understand the information about MSDs and their symptoms?
Do you understand the safe lifting technique we’ve described to prevent MSDs?
It’s important for your safety that you understand all this basic information about ergonomics on the job.
Answer any questions trainees have about the information presented in the previous slides.
Conduct an exercise, if appropriate.
Now let’s talk about how to avoid ergonomic injuries in specific jobs, beginning with techniques for lifting patients.

14. Planning Patient Lifts
Get help if necessary
Stretch briefly
Select the method and equipment you’ll use
Lock the bed or chair
Decide on your route
Explain your plan to the patient
Slide Show Notes
Before you lift or move a patient, you need to plan your strategy to ensure a successful, injury-free outcome for you and for the patient. So before you lift, take the time to:
Get help if the patient is immobile, heavy, uncooperative, or attached to tubes or wires.
Stretch briefly to help your body stay flexible and to prevent muscle strains.
Select the method and equipment you’ll use.
Lock the bed or chair so it can’t move.
Decide on your route and move obstacles out of the way.
Explain your plan to the patient. If appropriate, ask for cooperation.
Do you take the time to plan patient lifts and get help when necessary?
What factors do you try to anticipate?
Ask trainees to describe how they plan for patient lifts. What other factors do they take into account?

15. Lifting Patients Safely
Helping patients:
Sit up in bed
Stand up
Slide Show Notes
Now let’s look briefly at some specific lifting situations.
To help patients sit up in bed:
Move the patient to your side of the bed;
Stand with feet spread, back straight, and knees bent;
With one arm under the patient’s back, grasp the far shoulder;
Put your other hand on the patient’s far knee;
And then, pivot on the balls of your feet and slowly swing the patient upright on the edge of the bed.
To help patients stand up:
Place the patient’s feet firmly on the floor;
Stand with your feet apart, back straight, and knees bent;
Place your feet on the sides of the patient’s legs;
Place the patient’s hands on your waist;
Put your arms under patient’s arms and clasp your hands together behind the patient’s back;
And then, hold the patient close and shift your weight backward to pull the patient up.

16. Lifting Patients Safely (cont.)
Helping patients:
Sit down
Get up from the floor
Slide Show Notes
To help patients sit down:
Lock chair wheels.
Place the patient’s hands on your arms.
Place your arms under the patient’s arms and clasp your hands together behind the patient’s back.
Pivot the patient so that the back of the patient’s legs just touch the chair.
Shift your weight forward and slowly lower the patient into the chair.
To help patients who have fallen get up from the floor:
First determine if the patient is injured. If so, call for help.
If the patient is uninjured and able to stand independently, provide assistance as needed and stand by for safety.
If the patient is not able to get up independently, get a co-worker to help you and use a full-body sling lift to raise the patient.

17. Lifting Patients Safely (cont.)
Bed to chair, chair to bed, or chair to chair
Lateral transfer
Slide Show Notes
To lift a patient from bed to chair, chair to bed, or chair to chair:
If the patient can bear weight partially and is cooperative, use a stand and pivot technique with a transfer belt or a powered standing assist lift.
For patients who cannot bear weight but have upper body strength, use a transfer belt until the patient can complete the transfer independently.
If the patient cannot bear weight and has no upper body strength, or is not cooperative, does not understand, or is not willing, use a full-body sling lift and two caregivers.
When making a lateral transfer from a bed to a stretcher or trolley:
Make sure the surfaces are even.
Use a lateral sliding aid or friction-reducing device and two caregivers to slide the patient from one surface to the other.
A mechanical lateral transfer device is recommended for patients weighing more than 200 pounds.

18. Lifting Patients Safely (cont.)
Chair to exam table
Repositioning in bed
Slide Show Notes
To lift a patient from a chair to an exam table:
Position the exam table at a low level.
If the patient is cooperative and can bear weight partially, use the techniques described earlier for helping a patient to stand and sit.
If the patient cannot bear weight or is uncooperative, use a full-body sling lift and two or more caregivers.
To reposition a patient in bed:
Before repositioning, raise the height of the bed to a comfortable level for you so that you don’t have to bend too much.
If the patient can assist, ask the patient to flex the knees and then push on the count of three.
For patients who cannot assist, get help from a co-worker or use a full-body sling lift.
Think about the patient-lifting situations you encounter in your job. Are you taking steps to protect your back and safely lift your patients?
Demonstrate the specific patient lifting situations outlined in the previous slides plus others that trainees need to use in their jobs.

19. Handling Carts Safely
Place heavy and frequently used items within easy reach
Remove unnecessary items
Balance loads
Push, don’t pull
Slide Show Notes
Carts are used to store and transfer everything from food trays to cleaning supplies to equipment and tools. But pushing a heavy cart around and lifting things from it can cause injuries if you’re not careful. Remember these ergonomic safety pointers when using a cart:
Place heavy items and items most frequently used within easy reach between hip and shoulder height.
Remove unnecessary objects to minimize weight.
Be sure to balance loads and avoid overloading the cart.
And push instead of pulling carts, whenever possible. Keep your arms close to your body and push with your whole body, not just your arms.
Think about the way you handle carts. Are you working safely, or are you asking for an injury?
Demonstrate proper procedures for loading carts, pushing them, and removing trays, supplies, and other items from them safely.

20. Transporting Portable Equipment
Rolling devices
Obstacles
Medical equipment
Oxygen tanks
Slide Show Notes
When moving portable equipment:
Place it on a rolling device if possible, rather than carrying it.
Avoid obstacles that could cause abrupt stops.
When transporting medical equipment such as IV/medication poles with a patient, attach the equipment to the wheelchair or gurney or get a co-worker to help you move them. This avoids awkward stretching and reaching involved in pushing a wheelchair or gurney with one hand and the freestanding equipment with the other hand.
Also, when handling oxygen tanks, use small cylinders with handles whenever possible to reduce weight and allow for easier gripping. Be sure to secure oxygen tanks to the transport device.
Think about the way you handle portable equipment. Are you taking the proper precautions?
Demonstrate proper procedures for handling portable equipment safely.

21. Managing Liquid Transfers
Housekeepers should:
Use buckets with casters
Use a hose to fill buckets
Make sure casters roll easily
Use proper lifting technique to empty buckets
Get help emptying buckets if necessary
Slide Show Notes
Working with liquids presents ergonomic hazards because liquids are often heavy and awkward to manage. That’s why when filling or emptying containers you need to take precautions to prevent straining your back and other muscles.
Housekeepers should:
Use buckets with casters to move a mop bucket around.
Use a hose to fill buckets.
Make sure casters are maintained and roll easily.
Use proper lifting technique when tipping or lifting buckets to empty them.
Or, get help emptying a bucket if it’s too heavy for you to safely handle alone.

22. Managing Liquid Transfers (cont.)
Kitchen workers should:
Use proper lifting and carrying techniques
Use elevated faucets or hoses to fill large pots with water
Use ladles or saucepans to empty pots
Get help lifting or shifting heavy pots and pans
Slide Show Notes
Working with liquids presents ergonomic hazards to kitchen workers as well. Kitchen workers should:
Use proper lifting and carrying techniques when handling large, heavy pots and pans filled with soups and other liquids.
Use an elevated faucet or hose to fill large pots with water.
Use a ladle or small saucepan to empty liquids from pots to avoid heavy lifting.
And when you must lift or shift a heavy pot full of liquid, get help.
Do you manage liquid transfers properly to reduce the chance of injury?
Demonstrate a liquid transfer using a mop bucket, kitchen pot, or other container, depending on the work performed by the trainees in your group.

23. Selecting and Using Hand Tools to Prevent Injury
Make sure handle fits your grip
Use firm but comfortable grip
Choose the lightest tool
Select tools that have minimal vibration
Keep tool blades sharp
Slide Show Notes
Whether you’re using hand tools for work in the kitchen, housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, or some other task, you need to select the right tool for the job to prevent injury.
Make sure the handle of the tool fits your grip.
Use a firm but comfortable grip, and change your grip from time to time.
Choose the lightest tool possible for the job.
Select tools that have minimal vibration or vibration damping devices.
And, keep tool blades sharp.
Think about the way you use hand tools in your job. Do you take proper precautions to prevent MSDs?
Demonstrate proper hand tool selection and use, using tools appropriate to the jobs performed by trainees in the group.

24. Handling Heavy Bags Use a materials handling device
Slide bags on and off carts
Get help lifting large, heavy bags
Slide Show Notes
Whether you’re handling heavy laundry, trash, or other bags, you need to be careful not to place unnecessary stress and strain on your body.
Use a cart or other materials handling device to help you transport bags to their destination.
Slide bags on and off carts to avoid heavy lifting.
Get help lifting or shifting large, heavy bags to put them down a chute or into a dumpster.
Do you take proper precautions when handling heavy bags?
Demonstrate proper techniques for handling heavy bags.

25. Loading and Unloading Laundry
Handle only a few items at a time
Brace your body against the machine when lifting
Brace with one hand, while using the other to pull knotted items free
Use a cart to transport heavy baskets or bags
Slide Show Notes
If you work in the laundry, you need to follow the advice in the previous slide about handling heavy bags, and you also need to be especially careful when loading or unloading laundry from washers and dryers and when using other laundry equipment.
Handle only a few items at a time.
Brace your body against the front of the machine when lifting.
If items are knotted in the machine, brace with one hand while using the other to gently pull the items free.
And, place items onto a cart rather than picking up baskets or bags of soiled linen or wet laundry.
Think about the safe way to load and unload laundry. Even if you don’t perform this task on the job, you probably do it at home. Do you take proper precautions to prevent injury?
Demonstrate proper techniques for loading and unloading laundry.

26. Housekeeping Precautions
Use carts to transport supplies
Avoid bending or twisting
Alternate tasks
Clean objects at waist level whenever possible
Push with the leading edge when dusting
Work spray triggers with index and middle fingers
Slide Show Notes
Housekeeping tasks present numerous ergonomic hazards. Be sure to follow these recommendations to avoid injury:
Use carts to transport supplies, or make a couple of trips so that you only carry small quantities and weights of supplies at a time.
Avoid bending and twisting while cleaning.
Alternate physically stressful tasks with lighter tasks.
Clean objects at waist level if possible, rather than bending over them. For example, raise beds to waist level before making them, or push wheelchairs up a ramped platform to clean or repair.
When dusting, use a flat head duster and push with the leading edge.
When using spray bottles, work the trigger with your index and middle fingers, not your ring and little fingers.

27. Housekeeping Precautions (cont.)
Mopping and sweeping
Kneeling
Scrubbing
Vacuuming
Slide Show Notes
When using cleaning implements such as mops and brooms:
Avoid a tight, motionless grip.
Alternate the leading hand from time to time.
Frequently change styles when mopping from push/pull to figure 8 to rocking side to side to alternate stress on muscles.
When sweeping, sweep all areas into one pile and pick debris up with a vacuum.
Use extension handles, step stools, or ladders for overhead work and to reach low or hard-to-reach spots.
Wear kneepads when kneeling.
Use chemical cleaners and abrasive sponges to minimize scrubbing force.
When vacuuming, avoid a tight, static grip. Change your grip from time to time, and alternate hands.
Think about all these precautions. Do you take them when you are performing housekeeping chores?
Demonstrate the various techniques mentioned in this and the previous slide.

28. Sit Properly to Reduce Strain on Your Back
Sit up straight
Lean back
Keep your chair close to the work surface
Turn with your whole body
Hold paperwork upright
Slide Show Notes
If you spend a lot of time on the job sitting, it’s important to understand proper sitting posture to reduce strain on your back.
Sit up straight, with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent.
Lean your back against the back support. Use a cushion for added back support, if necessary.
Keep your chair close to your desk or work surface.
Turn with your whole body. Don’t twist your trunk.
Hold paperwork upright. Don’t lean over to read.

29. Sit Properly to Reduce Strain on Your Back (cont.)
Adjust your chair and work surface
Arrange your work area to minimize reaching and bending
Position your computer correctly
Maintain a neutral position while keyboarding
Change positions regularly
Slide Show Notes
Adjust your chair and work surface, if possible, to give you the most comfortable position.
Arrange your work area to minimize reaching and bending.
Position your computer monitor with the screen top slightly below eye level.
Maintain a neutral position when keyboarding so that you don’t have to bend your wrists.
And finally, be sure to change positions frequently and get up and move around from time to time to give your muscles the chance to move and stretch.
Think about the way you sit. Are you following these safe sitting practices or are you asking for an injury?
Demonstrate the safe sitting postures and practices.

30. Preventing Ergonomic Injuries on the Job
Do you understand the information about preventing ergonomic injuries?
Slide Show Notes
Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides about preventing ergonomic injuries while performing a variety of different tasks?
It’s important for your safety on the job that you understand this information and practice the safety precautions we’ve discussed.
Answer any questions trainees have about the information presented in the previous slides.
Conduct an exercise, if appropriate.
Now let’s conclude the session by reemphasizing the importance of taking care of your back.

31. Take Good Care of Your Back
Wear proper shoes
Practice good posture
Get regular exercise
Sleep on a firm mattress
Try to keep your weight down
Don’t overexert
Slide Show Notes
Back injuries are among the most common health problems for healthcare workers. Because you do so much lifting and bending in your job, you have to be especially careful of your back. So remember these back safety tips:
Always wear sturdy shoes with nonskid soles on the job.
Practice good posture when you stand and sit. Keep your back straight.
Get regular exercise, including back and abdomen strengthening exercises like crunches and sit-ups.
Sleep on a firm mattress and get enough rest.
Try to keep your weight down to keep pressure off your back.
Don’t overestimate your strength or overexert yourself. Get help lifting and carrying heavy objects.

32. Don’t Ignore Back Problems or Other Injuries
Tell your supervisor
Seek medical treatment
Follow your doctor’s advice
Slide Show Notes
It’s also important to pay attention to what your body is telling you. Never ignore back problems or other ergonomic injuries. They’ll probably only get worse.
Tell your supervisor if you have an injury or symptoms of an MSD.
Seek medical treatment right away. Don’t delay. The sooner you get treated, the better the chance for a complete recovery.
If you have regular back problems or some other chronic physical ailment, follow your doctor’s advice on ways to relieve the pain as well as ways to relieve additional strain.

33. Key Points to Remember Make sure you can recognize MSD symptoms
Be aware of ergonomic risk factors
Take proper precautions to prevent injuries
Report any symptoms immediately and seek medical treatment
Slide Show Notes
Here are the main points to remember from this session on ergonomics:
Make sure you can recognize MSD symptoms;
Be aware of the ergonomic risk factors in your job;
Take proper precautions to prevent injuries;
Finally, report any MSD symptoms immediately and seek medical treatment.
This concludes the ergonomics training session.
Give trainees the quiz, if appropriate.