Preventing employee injury: implementation of a lift team.
A lift team was implemented at an urban medical center in the Pacific Northwest to reduce employee injuries. The lift team consisted of a lift technician and a nursing assistant both trained in lifting techniques. The trial lasted 1 year. Data on employee injuries and day versus night injuries before and during lift team implementation are presented. Results do not show the same reduction in employee injuries described by previous authors. Possible explanations are related to the use of the lift team and policy development.
College of Health Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.
Pamela J
PJ
Springer
Bonnie K
BK
Lind
Johanna
J
Kratt
Ed
E
Baker
Joanne T
JT
Clavelle
D006801:Humans; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015205:Northwestern United States; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012044:Regression Analysis