Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: ERGONOMIC

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were required to perform lifting tasks resulting in stressors that have caused or were likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs): On or about November 13, 2002, and at times prior thereto, employees at the Park House Nursing Home Facility were required to transfer non-weight bearing clients manually by lifting them. Evaluation of the 2-person lifts and the use of the failing manually operated lift to transfer nursing home clients indicates that employees, including Life Skills Coaches, are exposed to a hazard which is causing or likely to cause MSDs. Employees transferring non-weight bearing clients manually by lifting them were exposed to lifting related hazards resulting in injuries and disorders such as lumbar or back strain/sprain/pain, injury to the L5/S1 disc, and various shoulder injuries. OSHA has determined that one method of addressing these stressors is to implement a "no manual lift" ("no lift") policy for transferring and lifting of non-weight bearing and partial weight bearing clients. This necessitates the use of appropriate mechanical lift assist and transfer devices. Attached is a list of available resources that may be of assistance to you in addressing work- related injuries and illnesses in your workplace. Abatement suggestions: 1.Worksite analysis to recognize and identify existing ergonomic stressors related to client handling. This analysis should identify client handling tasks that are causing or likely to cause injury. 2.Occupational Health Management which includes accurate recordkeeping of manual lifting injuries. The protocol should address early recognition, evaluation, referral of client handling injury/illness cases, and return to work policies/procedures. Systematic worksite review should be included. 3.Training and education for exposed employees, including methods to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. Re-training should be done annually or as operations change. Training should be done in a manner understood by all employees and should address hazards associated with the job, early recognition of ergonomic injuries and illnesses, the risks of manual client handling, the mandatory use of appropriate mechanical lifting devices and other client handling equipment, as appropriate, no lift policy, and the prevention of client handling injuries/illnesses. Training should also be provided to management. A supervisors' training program should also be implemented. This program would include the recognition and importance of reporting manual lifting hazards, the importance of using mechanicallifting devices and other client handling equipment, and the safe operation of this equipment. The training program should include the establishment's health care providers to ensure that they are able to recognize and prescribe appropriate treatment for MSDs. Education material or training on ergonomics and resident handling should be provided to those responsible for implementing policy and purchasing equipment. 4.Hazard prevention and control which includes engineering, administrative, and work practice controls. Examples of engineering controls include: a.The use of appropriate mechanical lift-assist devices to reduce significantly, if not eliminate, manual transferring and lifting of totally non-weight bearing clients. b.The use of mechanical lifts or lift walkers to reduce significantly, if not eliminate, manual transferring and lifting of partial weight bearing clients. c.Double-handled gait belts or other transfer assist devices (such as but not limited to slip sheets and pivot transfer devices). d.Equipment to assist with daily living (such as toilet/shower chairs, toilet risers, pelvic lift devices, and height adjustable bathtubs). Administrative controls reduce the duration, frequency, and severity of exposure to client handling hazards. These controls may include preventive maintenance of client handling equipment and maintenance of slings and belts in a sanitary condition. Work practice controls include proper work techniques such as using the appropriate lift- assist devices correctly. Note: Abatement certification required for this item.