774 Safe Patient Handling Program

MSD Assessment

Introduction

Hospitals are filled with serious workplace hazards. Healthcare workers often face risks like lifting and moving patients, as well as dealing with slips, trips, and falls.

Many caregivers feel a strong responsibility to help their patients and believe in the idea of “do no harm.” Because of this, some may put their own safety at risk to make sure a patient is cared for properly.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the chance of getting injured or becoming ill on the job—and needing days off to recover—is higher in hospitals than in construction and manufacturing. These two industries are usually seen as very hazardous, but hospital work actually has more frequent injuries that take workers away from their jobs.

Hospital Work is Dangerous

Hospital workers face many risks every day. Moving patients who cannot help themselves puts a lot of strain on a worker’s body. Tasks like lifting, repositioning, or transferring patients often lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These are injuries that affect the muscles, nerves, and joints, and they can cause serious pain or long-term problems.

MSDs are one of the most common types of injuries in hospitals. They often happen when staff members do the same motions over and over, or when they lift heavy loads without help or proper equipment. Because of these dangers, it is important for hospitals to assess the risk of MSDs and take steps to reduce them.

When hospitals perform an MSD assessment, they look at how tasks are done and identify where injuries might happen. This helps them find safer ways to do the work. Some examples include using lifting devices, training staff on proper body mechanics, and adjusting workloads to lower the chance of injury. A good MSD assessment helps protect healthcare workers and ensures they can keep helping patients without harming themselves.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.