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Injury Prevention Resources for Health Care - Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSI) and Ergonomics


Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSI) and Ergonomics | Ceiling Lift Resources | Violence | Needlestick Injuries | Infectious Diseases | Latex Allergies | Home Care | Cytotoxic Drugs | General Resources

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.

How to Safely Move Bariatric Patients - Information Session, June 11, 2008 updated item

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.

Transfer Assist Devices for the Safer Handling of Patients: A Guide for Selection and Safe Use BK103 updated publication

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 in print from Publications, Videos, and Forms Distribution.
Updated: October 2006

Patient Handling in Small Facilities: A Companion Guide to Handle with Care

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) (New: March 2006)

High-Risk Manual Handling of Patients in Healthcare

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) (New: September 2005)

Handle with Care: Patient Handling and the Application of Ergonomics (MSI) Requirements

This 111-page publication discusses how to implement a "no lift" approach to patient handling in the health care sector.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC

Last updated: December 2006

For possible convenience in printing and downloading, Handle with Care is also available as a series of smaller PDF files:

You can also download only the blank forms:

Ceiling Lift Resources

The ceiling lift resources presented here include links to research, guidelines, standards, programs, and other materials related to the selection, installation, and use of ceiling lifts.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* Ceiling Lift Resources

Preventing Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI): A Guide for Employers and Joint Committees

This booklet describes the process for preventing MSI injuries in the workplace. MSI is a common type of workplace injury in all industries in British Columbia. MSI claims resulting from overexertion and repetitive motion accidents account for about one-third of claims accepted by WorkSafeBC in British Columbia. In some industries, this proportion is much higher.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (902 KB)
Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.

Understanding the Risks of Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI). An educational guide for workers, on sprains, strains, and other MSIs

This booklet provides information to help workers, employers, and joint health and safety committees recognize the signs and symptoms of MSI, understand the potential health effects of MSI, and identify the factors that place workers at risk for MSI.
* PDF (2 MB) * Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC

Back Talk: An Owner's Manual for Backs BK4

An illustrated handbook that explains how the back works, provides tips for avoiding injury, and shows how to care for the back during recovery. The booklet also covers situations that can cause excessive loads and describes ways to reduce the risk of injury.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (621 KB)
Updated: June 2007
* Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.

Does your back hurt? A guide to preventing low back pain

A brief illustrated guide outlining back facts and myths, back posture, risk factors, exercises, and tips for preventing back pain.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (127 KB)

How to Make Your Computer Workstation Fit You BK76

An illustrated guide containing basic information on how to identify and solve problems with computer workstations.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (807 KB)
Updated: January 2005
* Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.

WorkSafe Bulletin: Properly Install, Inspect, and Load Test Overhead Patient/Resident Track Lifts

This bulletin briefly describes the causes of an accident involving an overhead patient/resident track lift system and actions required by employers, lift suppliers, installers, and workers to prevent recurrence of such an incident.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (206 KB)
Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.

MSI Prevention Bulletin 1 - General X-ray Technologist

This bulletin provides information for general x-ray technologists regarding possible risk controls to eliminate or minimize musculoskeletal injuries.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (98 KB)

MSI Prevention Bulletin 3 - Bed Making and Cleaning in Health Care

This bulletin provides information for housekeepers and care aides regarding possible risk controls to eliminate or minimize musculoskeletal injury during bed making and cleaning.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (167 KB)

MSI Prevention Bulletin 4 - Room Cleaning in Health Care

This bulletin provides information regarding possible risk controls to eliminate or minimize musculoskeletal injury during room cleaning in health care settings.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (186 KB)

MSI Prevention Bulletin 5 - Floor Mopping

This bulletin provides information for housekeepers, cleaners, and custodians regarding possible risk controls to eliminate or minimize musculoskeletal injury during floor mopping.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (195 KB)

MSI Prevention Bulletin 7 - Floor-Cleaning Machines

This bulletin provides information for housekeepers, cleaners, and custodians regarding possible risk controls to eliminate or minimize musculoskeletal injury during the use of vacuums, polishers/burnishers, and floor scrubbers to clean floors.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (182 KB)

MSI Prevention Bulletin 8 - Laundry in Health Care Facilities

This bulletin provides information for workers in intermediate and extended care facilities regarding possible risk controls to eliminate or minimize musculoskeletal injury when handling laundry.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (373 KB)

Langley Early Assessment and Prevention (LEAP) Program

In an effort to reduce the number of days lost due to workplace injuries the Fraser Health Authority developed and implemented an early return to work program. This project specifically focused on addressing musculoskeletal injuries that arose out of or in the course of employment. Best practices for return to work in health care were identified. The overall reduction in claim costs experienced at LMH during the LEAP project was 25%.
Source: Fraser Health Authority and Langley Memorial Hospital
* PDF (2 MB)

Comprehensive Ceiling Lift Program in Continuing Care at Queen's Park Care Centre

This document outlines the progress of the Comprehensive Ceiling Lift Program in Continuing Care Project performed at residential care unit 3 West at Queen's Park Care Centre in New Westminster, British Columbia. Dated November 2, 2002.
Source: Fraser Health Authority
* PDF (464 KB)

Ergonomics (Musculoskeletal) Risk Assessment Project at Langley Memorial Hospital

An 18-month project by the Fraser Health Authority to conduct ergonomics (MSI) risk assessments addressing the risks associated with working in a medium-sized acute care facility.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (5 MB)

The following sample risk assessments are entirely generic and do not reflect any actual setting. They are intended only as examples for reference.

The World Without Linen Bags

Soiled linen handling is seldom considered a causal factor when investigating injuries, however, the "World Without Linen Bags" project group believes that linen bag handling contributes to the cumulative risk of MSI for occupational groups involved in this activity.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (5 MB)
* 2002 Annual Update PDF (6 KB)

Ergonomics Module

"Many residents are totally dependent on staff members to provide for their activities of daily living (ADL), such as dressing, bathing, feeding, and toileting. Each of these activities involve multiple interactions with handling or transferring of residents and could result in employee injury."
Source: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
* PDF (678 KB)

Ergonomic Tips for Resident/Patient Bathrooms

"Many health care facilities make small renovations to improve resident/patient areas. This fact sheet outlines some issues to keep in mind when bathrooms are being designed or renovated. The next time your facility plans such a change, all staff can help to identify improvements to keep everyone safer."
Source: Health Care Health and Safety Association of Ontario
* PDF (39 KB)

Managing manual handling risk in a small organization

"Manual handling injury is the largest component of all workplace injury, illness and disease in Victoria, Australia. It results in human suffering on a large scale as well as a huge cost to the community."
Source: WorkSafe Victoria
* HTML

Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls

An OSH Answers document describing how falls happen and how to avoid falls due to slips and trips.
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
* HTML

Reducing Injuries in Intermediate Care

"The project set out to provide in-depth insights into the reasons for high rates of musculoskeletal (MSI) and aggression-related injuries among front-line staff in Intermediate Care."
Source: Hospital Employees' Union
* PDF (465 KB)

Elements of Ergonomics Programs

"This primer provides basic information that will be useful for employers, workers, and others in designing effective programs to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs), one of the most prevalent and costly safety and health problems in the modern workplace."
Source: NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
* HTML

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