Region 3 News Release: 13-1335-PHI (osha 13-70)
July 16, 2013
Contact: Joanna Hawkins Leni Fortson
Phone: 215-861-5101 215-861-51024
Email: hawkins.joanna@dol.gov uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA announces outreach campaign to protect
health care workers from hazards causing musculoskeletal disorders
Improper patient handling is a leading cause of injuries

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a campaign to raise awareness about the hazards likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders among health care workers responsible for patient care. These disorders include sprains, strains, soft tissue and back injuries.

"The best control for MSDs is an effective prevention program," said MaryAnn Garrahan, OSHA regional administrator in Philadelphia. "Our goal is to assist nursing homes and long-term care facilities in promoting effective processes to prevent injuries."

As part of the campaign, OSHA is providing 2,500 employers, unions and associations in the health care industry in Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia with information about methods used to control hazards, such as lifting excessive weight during patient transfers and handling. OSHA is also providing information about how employers can include a zero-lift program, which minimizes direct patient lifting by using specialized lifting equipment and transfer tools.

In 2010, there were 40,030 occupational MSD cases in private industry nationwide where the source of injury or illness was a health care patient or resident of a health care facility. For MSD cases involving patient handling, 99 percent were the result of overexertion, resulting in sprain, strain, or tear injuries. Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants incurred occupational injuries or illnesses in 49 percent of the MSD cases involving health care patients. Registered nurses accounted for 17 percent, and home health aides for another six percent.

Detailed information on safe patient handling can be found at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthcarefacilities/safepatienthandling.html.

For more information about the campaign, or to ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA's role is to promote safe and healthful working conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 303-693-7838 or TTY 303-693-7755.