Inspections Focused on Physical Ergonomics in Patient Transfers

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Inspections Focused on Physical Ergonomics in
Patient Transfers

• Kersti Lorén
• Swedish Work Environment Authority
• kersti.loren_at_av.se

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The assignment by the Swedish Government

• Preventing the exclusion of women from working
  life due to factors in the work environment
• State of knowledge
• Information
• Development of methods
• Training of inspectors
• Performance of inspections
• Cooperation with other actors

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No one should be injured when taking care of
other persons
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Aims of the inspection project

• Lead to increased knowledge of the risks of
  WRMSDs.
• Contribute to advancing knowledge of how these
  can be detected and prevented.

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At organizational level

• Work organization and work load.
• Enough time?
• Staffing?
• Physical load caused by the care burden.
• Access to and maintenance of equipment.
• Workspace.
• Knowledge.
•  

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At patient level
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For any individual patient transfer
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Methods introduced
www.av.se/checklistor
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Inspectors were trained

• Specially assigned inspectors.
• Common understanding.
• Hjälpmedelsinstitutet in Göteborg.
• Inspectors at each district were trained by their
  colleagues specially assigned for the project.

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The inspections

• The employers were notified about the inspection
  four weeks in advance.
• Inspections were carried out mostly in a sitting
  session.

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Demands

• Performing risk assessments.
• Corrective actions, not carried out immediately.
• Establish procedures

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Knowledge
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Effects - examples

• Procedures developed.
• Collaboration between hospital and home care.
• Donning of compression stockings on checklists.
• Ways to facilitate donning of compression
  stockings.
• Procedures for regular risk assessments and
  training.

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Good practice

• Good practice for a systematic work environment
  management.
• Functional routines for education and training.
• Good access to assistive devices.
• Low absenteeism.
• Participation.
• Skilled managers.
• A good working atmosphere.

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Different areas of interest

• Occupational health services.
• Physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
• The patients need for rehabilitation and
  independence.
• The employee's interest not to risk health and
  wellbeing at work.
• The laws.

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A sustainable work

• Prevent WRMSD's.
• HTO perspective.
• Suitable conditions for managers.
• Procedures and systems facilitating.
• Maintain and develop competence.

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Thank you for your attention!

• Please contact me at
• kersti.loren_at_av.se
• In order to get more information