Pearls for Practice — All-person safety: Patient lift, movement and transfer
This story appears in the Winter 2021 print issue of The Washington Nurse.
Rates of musculoskeletal injuries in health care occupations are among the highest of U.S. industries, with hospital workers experiencing injury rates two or three times the national average. The single-greatest risk factor for overexertion injuries is the manual lifting, moving and repositioning of patients, clients and residents. Washington state law requires acute care hospitals to have a safe patient handling program.
Refuse to lift (RCW 70.41.390)
An important provision of the acute care hospital law is the worker’s right to refuse to lift.
A hospital employee may refuse to perform or be involved in patient handling or movement that he/she believes in good faith will expose a patient or the worker to an unacceptable risk of injury.
