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Resources - By Industry - Health Care


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The following links list tools, publications, and other resources to help prevent musculoskeletal injuries. 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.

Assess Every Time (Video)

video thumbnail 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. (4 min 23 s)
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC

Ceiling Lifts: Why Aren't They Being Used? (Video)

video thumbnail Using ceiling lifts to transfer, reposition, and turn clients reduces injuries. Sometimes, though, even when lifts are available, they're not always used. This video challenges the seven most common reasons health care workers give for not using ceiling lifts. (6 min 25 s)
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC

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.

Best Practices for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: Understanding and Minimizing Risk of Musculoskeletal Injury

This toolkit for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers provides known solutions to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury. Topics include identification of high risk procedures, changes to equipment and supports, work techniques, and work scheduling and organization. This project was jointly funded by WorkSafeBC and the Health Sciences Association of B.C.

Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC  and the Health Sciences Association of BC

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.
* HTML
Source: Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA)

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 WorkSafeBC
* PDF (2 MB)
* Available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store.

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 WorkSafeBC
* PDF (2 MB)
* Available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store.

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 WorkSafeBC
* PDF (2 MB)
* Available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store.

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 WorkSafeBC
* PDF (368 KB)
* Available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store.

MSI Prevention Bulletins

Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Bulletins provide information on typical MSI issues faced by workers in the following occupations. The information is provided as a guideline only; employers must still complete an MSI risk assessment to accurately determine the risk in their workplace.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC



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