Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125810788 - Redding Medical Center

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On November 12, 2001, Employee #1, a Radiology Supervisor, was assisting a coworker performing a CAT Scan of a large and heavy patient. The scan had been completed, and Employee #1 was repositioning the patient in the CAT Scan gantry by lifting and pulling the bed sheet the patient was lying on. As Employee #1 lifted and pulled, an unknown fold (or slack) in the sheet gave way on the employee's and the patient's right side. This caused all the weight to shift unto Employee #1's left arm and shoulder. Employee #1 immediately felt a burning pain in his left shoulder and arm. Employee #1 was originally diagnosed with "rotator cuff injury" but was later found to have a "herniated disc" between vertebrae discs C6 and C7 in his neck. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Keywords: SHOULDER, LOAD SHIFT, MANUAL MAT HANDLING, NECK, ARM, VERTEBRA