U.S. Newswire reports that American Nurses Association (ANA) strongly opposes any efforts to delay publication of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Ergonomics Standard that would protect nurses from disabling back injuries and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). ANA testified at a July 13 Senate hearing on the impact of the standard on Medicaid, Medicare, and other health care costs. ANA will continue to urge for the immediate publication of the standard. With proper enforcement, ANA believes that this standard will not only prevent back injuries and MSDs, but will also improve patient care.
“Every day nurses suffer debilitating, and often career-ending and life-altering, injuries from lifting and moving patients,” stated ANA President Mary E. Foley, MS, RN. “We should not have to jeopardize our own health while caring for patients. We have been debating this standard for over 10 years while nurses continue to get injured, and many are choosing to leave the profession rather than risk injury.”
Back injuries affect up to 38 percent of all nurses. Patient handling, transfer and manual lifting are significant risk factors for back injuries. These injuries are not only disabling to nurses but the costs are extremely high to the health care industry. Costs include lost workdays due to injury and workers’ compensation. Institutions can save money and careers by implementing an ergonomics program recommended in the standard. By protecting workers from injury, health care facilities also can invest in retaining a cadre of experienced and healthy nurses, which is particularly important in this time of increasing nurse shortages.
According to the ANA, the prevalence of back injuries among health care workers is so high that an enforceable requirement for evaluating the physical demands in patient care and implementing programs to prevent disabling back and upper extremity injuries is critical. These programs should involve frontline health care workers in the evaluation of the risks in the environment and recommendations for prevention. The standard would also promote high-quality patient care. The use of lifting teams and devices would allow nurses to move patients in a safe and efficient manner, decreasing the risk of patient falls. In addition, it would allow for increased mobility for patients, reducing the risk of complications, like bed sores, blood clots, and pneumonia.
From the Daily Regulatory Reporter
