Ergonomics Guidelines Approved For Nursing Homes

The Workers" Compensation Committee at the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) unanimously approved a resolution supporting ergonomics guidelines for nursing homes and encouraging such facilities to use alternative mechanical lifting methods. OSHA suggests that hospitals and similar work environments should find these guidelines useful.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers lead the nation in work-related back injuries. 12 out of 100 nurses in hospitals, and 17.3 out of 100 nurses working in nursing homes report work-related injuries, resulting in spiraling costs.

Preventing these kinds of injuries with ergonomics training is critical at a time when the nation"s obesity epidemic means more than half of the U.S. population is overweight. Lifting 200- to 300-pound patients can be a daily occurrence for healthcare workers.