Safe-Patient-Handling Program Reduces Workers' Injuries

Neck and back strain injuries are a common injury for health care workers who assist bedridden patients on a daily basis and often put too much strain on themselves while assisting patients in and out of bed.

Nurses United/CWA Local 1168 members in New York’s Kaleida system pioneered a safe-patient-handling “no-lift” program that has significantly reduced injuries to not only workers, but also patients.

Today, instead of lifting patients, workers won new contract protections that require the use of mechanical lifts. Within 18 months, workers’ neck and back strains and sprains dropped by more than 70 percent, and patients’ injuries from fractures, fell nearly as much.

Getting the policy in place was a long process. It began in 2000, with newly negotiated ergonomics language. This led to the creation of a joint labor-management safety committee whose mandate was to create a safe and health workplace.

“We were lifting patients all the time and we knew that the process had to change,” said Local safety and health director Dana McCarthy.

Local 1168 has been working to have its Kaleida program used as a model for safe-patient-handling policy throughout New York State.