Customer Centres
How Do I?
Download Adobe Reader for free (required to view PDF files)
Injury Prevention Resources for Health Care - Patient Handling 
The following links list tools, publications, and other resources to help prevent the most common injuries and illnesses in the health care industry. These resources may not meet all the requirements for health and safety in British Columbia. Please check the Workers Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and related materials for specific WorkSafeBC requirements.
Patient Handling Bulletins
1 in 3 injuries among health care workers is caused by the handling of patients. The following are a series of bulletins addressing various topics related to patient handling.
- Weighing the risks
- Reducing the risks
- Ceiling lifts vs. floor lifts - What's the difference?
- Ceiling lifts - They're not just for transfers
- Soaker pads are not for repositioning
- All 5 bulletins have also been packaged together in one easy to use document.
Provincial Health Services Authority Patient Handling Videos
The following is a series of instructional video courses developed by Provincial Health Services Authority for a variety of patient handling procedures used in healthcare settings.
Source: Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA)
* HTML
Interior Health Authority Safe Patient Handling Resources
This website features a series of videos, assessment tools, safe work procedures, and other supporting documents developed by Interior Health Authority to assist healthcare facilities in developing an effective safe patient handling program.
Source: Interior Health
* HTML
Assess Every Time Video
 |
A patient's physical and cognitive abilities can change at any time. This video reviews a quick assessment you should complete prior to moving your patient. Source: WorkSafeBC * Video (4 min 23 sec) |
|---|
Handle with Care: Patient Handling and the Application of Ergonomics (MSI) Requirements BK79
This publication discusses how to implement a "no lift" approach to patient handling in the health care sector.
Source: WorkSafeBC 
* PDF (2 MB)
* Print copies are available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store
Last updated: December 2006
Patient Handling in Small Facilities: A Companion Guide to Handle with Care BK100
This handbook illustrates how small facilities within the health care sector can apply WorkSafeBC's Ergonomics (MSI) Requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation to their individual facility. It will guide you through the process of identifying, assessing, and controlling the risks of musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) for patient handling.Source: WorkSafeBC
* PDF (2 MB)
* Print copies are available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store
Dated: March 2006
High-Risk Manual Handling of Patients in Healthcare BK97
This guide has been written to provide information on patient moving and handling techniques that present higher risks of musculoskeletal injury (MSI) to healthcare workers. Information on safer patient-handling strategies is also viewed.Source: WorkSafeBC
* PDF (2 MB)
* Print copies are available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store
Dated: September 2005
Transfer Assist Devices for the Safer Handling of Patients: A Guide for Selection and Safe Use BK103
Health care professionals can use this guide as a resource for evaluating and selecting appropriate transfer assist devices for use in their care environment. Transfer assist devices are non-mechanical devices, such as slide sheets and transfer boards that can reduce the forces or awkward postures associated with some patient-handling activities. When properly selected and used, these devices can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury (MSI) to caregivers.
Source: WorkSafeBC
* PDF (368 KB)
* Print copies are available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store
Dated: October 2006
How to Safely Move Bariatric Patients
WorkSafeBC hosted an information session on strategies and equipment required to safely transport, lift and move bariatric patients (patients who weigh 100+ lbs over their ideal body weight) within and between healthcare facilities.
The Canadian Obesity Network provided an overview of the bariatric population and demographics in BC. The Interior Health Authority, Calgary Emergency Medical Services, and equipment vendors, including Arjo, Accessibility Solutions, and Shoppers HomeHealthCare, presented information, tools and resources to assist healthcare facilities safely move bariatric patients.
- Agenda (PDF 17 KB)
- Taking Stock of the Obesity Epidemic, Presentation by Scott Lear, PhD, (PDF 1.5 MB)
- Is Your Facility Ready to Handle a Bariatric Patient - A Case Study, Presentation by Avis Antonenko, Interior Health, (PDF 1.5 MB)
- Bariatric Patient Transport the Calgary Medical Emergency Solution, Presentation by Scott Holland EMT-P, (PDF 7.5 MB)
- Design Guidelines for Facilities with Bariatric Patients, from The American Institute of Architects, (PDF 160 KB)
You can return to the Top of this page