From research to practice: the application of NIOSH model ergonomic program in a healthcare setting.

NIOSH guidelines do not address ergonomic concerns related to patient safety. Thus, the ergonomic concerns in health-care go beyond musculoskeletal injuries.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published guidelines for setting up a good ergonomics program that focuses on...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 21 - 25
Autor principal: Halpern M
Formato: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare 2009 Summer
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=105426417&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 105426417
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        21688044
        5DI7
      jtl: Journal of the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare
      issn: 21688044
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: 2009 Summer
      vid: 29
      iid: 3
      pid: 42054
      pub: Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare
      place: Chula Vista, California
    artinfo:
      ui:
        105426417
        105426417
        2010381945
        105426417
      ppf: 21
      ppct: 4
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: From research to practice: the application of NIOSH model ergonomic program in a healthcare setting.
      aug:
        au: Halpern M
      sug:
        subj:
          Ergonomics
          Occupational Safety
          Occupational-Related Injuries Prevention and Control
          Checklists
          Focus Groups
          Funding Source
          Health Facilities
          Models, Theoretical
          National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
          Occupational-Related Injuries Risk Factors
          Patient Safety
          Pilot Studies
          Practice Guidelines
          Surveys
          Human
      ab: NIOSH guidelines do not address ergonomic concerns related to patient safety. Thus, the ergonomic concerns in health-care go beyond musculoskeletal injuries.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published guidelines for setting up a good ergonomics program that focuses on prevention of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the manufacturing and service industries. This pilot study applied the NIOSH model in a specialty hospital and attempted to examine its relevance to healthcare settings.With very few recordable musculoskeletal injuries, the program was set up in a pathology department where management was willing to collaborate rather than where a need was urgent. The program was therefore set as a stand-alone and adapted to address ergonomic issues related to computer terminals in the lab and offices. A task force was set up and assessed the design of the computer workstations using a standard checklist, musculoskeletal symptoms were surveyed and a series of focus groups and training sessions in Healthy Computing were conducted for labor and management. Products were selected to address the ergonomic deficiencies noted in the design of the workstations.The action steps that could be implemented during the project were compared against the guidelines of the NIOSH model ergonomics program. The pilot study revealed that of 41 items listed in NIOSH model, 30 (73 percent) were applicable to the hospital environment. However, the ergonomic concerns in healthcare go beyond musculoskeletal injuries of the care providers, and the NIOSH guidelines do not address ergonomic concerns related to patient safety. Other criteria may have to serve for selecting an intervention site and assessing the impact of the program. Three conclusions can be drawn: 1) the impact of the ergonomic program may not be manifested in OSHA logs but rather in reduction of lost work time due to non-workrelated health problems; 2) to make the ergonomic program more effective, link it to patient safety and risk management; and 3) more research is needed to link the ergonomic concerns of both employees and patients in a healthcare setting.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N