When is it safe to manually lift a patient?
In 1994 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation-an ergonomics assessment tool that can be used to calculate the recommended weight limit for two-handed manual-lifting tasks. However, NIOSH excluded assessment of patient-handling tasks from the uses of the revised equation, arguing that such tasks involve too many variables. The equation in fact can be used to calculate a recommended weight limit for a limited range of patient-handling tasks in which the patient is cooperative and unlikely to move suddenly during the task. In general, the revised equation yields a recommended 35-lb. maximum weight limit for use in patient-handling tasks. When weight to be lifted exceeds this limit, assistive devices should be used.
Waters
Thomas R
TR
Division of Applied Research and Technology at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA. trw1@cdc.gov
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001835:Body Weight; D006804:Ergonomics; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009314:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D016134:Organizational Policy; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation