By Kenneth S. Weinberg, MSc, PhD

Ever since OSHA introduced its Ergonomics Guidelines in 2001, safety professionals have worked hard to better understand the causes of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) and, more importantly, how to reduce or eliminate them. This is especially true in healthcare, where workers suffer more MSIs than any other professional group - with backaches, neck pain and shoulder injuries leading the way. Within the healthcare profession, nurses who lift and move patients are particularly vulnerable.

Healthcare providers and facilities have tried many different approaches to deal with the problem of MSIs. One that's proven both popular and effective is the use of lift teams. Of course, this technique can work not just in healthcare but in almost any industry. This article will explain why lift teams are successful in curbing MSIs and how to put one together at your facility.

The Lift Team's Purpose

A lift team is a group of workers who are specially trained and dedicated to the task of lifting, moving and repositioning patients, including patients who are overweight, obese or hard to move. Nurses and other healthcare providers are spared these tasks and thus have less exposure to ergonomic injuries.

A lift team may consist of as few as two members. Team members are most often male because of the physical nature of the work. However, women may also serve on a lift team.

Training Lift Team Members

Be sure that your lift team members get training in proper lifting techniques, including the use of equipment specifically designed to help them do their jobs. It's also wise to provide team members additional training to enhance their value to the hospital. That may include training in:

• CPR
• Preventing the spread of infectious diseases, including through exposure to blood borne pathogens
• Handling the problems that can arise when individuals are unable or unwilling to move on their own.

Organizing the Lift Team

Lift teams can be organized in a variety of ways, depending on the size of the facility.

• Larger facilities often organize lift teams by floor or unit. Thus, personnel on the floor are called upon by their colleagues whenever they need help moving or repositioning a patient. The message for assistance is transmitted from the nursing desk.
• Smaller facilities generally organize two or three groups of lift teams that service either the entire facility or specific sections of the facility. In this case, members of the lift team are summoned by an overhead page or by a beeper message.

The key is to have staff trained and ready to assist others in moving patients, and a system in place to summon the team. Because patient lifting and moving may be needed at any time of the day, many facilities have lift teams available around-the-clock.

Conclusion

While lift teams make sense, you can't just say 'let's have a lift team' and expect the program to be successful. You must take the time and effort to properly educate staff about the team's responsibilities. You also need to explain how and when lift teams are used. Next week, in Part 2 of this series, we'll discuss how to build a team approach that will help you get better results from your lift team.

CHAINSAW SAFETY

Beware of Flailing Flywheels

Chainsaws recalled.

If you're in the forestry industry or before you start your fall pruning, check the serial number of your chainsaw.

Chainsaws made by both Makita USA Inc and Dolmar Power Products have been voluntarily recalled due to safety hazards. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the chainsaw's flywheel can come apart during use, risking serious personal injury. The companies have received three reports of the flywheel coming apart. Fortunately there have been no reports of injury.

The teal-colored Makita chainsaws involved in the recall are DCS6401 and DCS7901 models with the last five digits in these ranges:

DCS6401: 41915 through 45612, 81722 through 82057

DCS7901: 31182 through 31491.

The red Dolmar chainsaws involved in the recall are PS6400 and PS7900 models with the last five digits in these ranges:

PS6400: 71998 through 79250

PS7900: 40156 through 43009

Note that if the letter "N" precedes the serial number on the nameplate and there's a blue dot on the shipping carton, that product has been repaired and is not involved in the recall.

For more information, call Makita toll-free at 866.714.3860 and Dolmar at 888.673.7278.

Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Clean Hands Week September 18 to 24, 2005

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper handwashing is the single most important thing people can do to prevent illness and the spread of germs. Here's what the CDC recommends for proper hand hygiene:

• First wet hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Place the bar soap on a rack and allow it to drain.
• Rub hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue for 10 - 15 seconds or about the length of a little tune. It's the combination of soap and the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.
• Rinse well and dry hands.

The CDC also reports that an estimated one out of three people do not wash their hands after using the restroom. So proper hand hygiene is important not only in the workplace and at home, but also when out in public.

KATRINA SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Postal Workers Missing

The U.S. Postal Service is asking employees, customers and the media to get this important message out about Hurricane Katrina victims to as many people as possible.

Evacuees: Please file a change of address (COA) as soon as possible.

Displaced Employees: Please contact the Postal Service at 1-877-477-3273, and let them know where you are.

Editor's Note: SafetyXChange is eager to help anybody who's been affected by Hurricane Katrina. If you're a Katrina victim or trying to locate or get in touch with one, please send the information to catherinej@bongarde.com, and we'll post it on SafetyXChange.

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