Conference provides balance for safe lifting, safe staff

Jemma Marie-Hanson — “Body mechanics alone is not enough. We have to think about our patient’s injuries as well as taking care of ourselves. This conference showed us how to balance this. The innovative equipment on display demonstrated there is a better way to lift, a better way to provide excellent care. It’s all about ensuring our clients get what they need, whether it’s turning or assisting them to walk, and allowing us as caregivers to be safe.

Peter Banks — “We have to work as a partnership and the conference exemplified that. Facility managers must realize labor is an important part of the equation. This conference showed a cooperation between the Labor Department and the unions. The problems we have with our nurses are universal. And the sooner we get on board with a zero-lift mentality, the sooner it will be a safer environment for our patients, staff and members.

Carol Ferrante — “This conference provided more information on safe patient handling, rather than just positioning a patient. We have a diverse population at Long Island Developmental Disabilities Services Office including medically fragile individuals who require constant care and turning every two hours. We are looking for a zero-lift program here, and the conference provided the information and tools available to help launch a pilot program. It’s proactive for us, and will be beneficial to patients and staff.”

David Crugnale — “Networking was one of the big things. The people who participated in the conference were all at different levels in their safe patient handling programs. It was an opportunity to learn from each other, whether it was how to train staff or use different equipment. The conference brought new energy to an existing concern and helped us realize it may take a little longer to rethink how to lift or move a patient in a different way. The end result is worth the initiative.

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Niagara Falls was the site of the 2nd Annual Safe Patient Handling in Health Care Conference in October where dozens of PEF members gathered to learn more about providing better ways to move or lift patients, as well as avoiding an injury to themselves.

The conference, sponsored by the state Department of Labor and Zero Lift Task Force, was supported by PEF and other labor unions.

Kathy D’Arminio, PEF chair of the joint Health and Safety Committee, said PEF members who attended were able to go back to their facilities knowing how to identify lifting problems and offer solutions.

“Other safe patient handling conferences have been held,” D’Arminio said, “but this one raised the bar to another level.

“Patient lifting is hazardous to thousands of PEF members who have direct patient contact. PEF’s goal is to increase the safe patient handling committees in our facilities across the state and to decrease injuries to our members. Given the state’s fiscal crisis, safe patient handling programs are an excellent means to decrease millions of dollars spent in workers’ compensation costs,” D’Arminio said.

Guest speakers included state Sen. George D. Maziarz, Thomas Waters, a senior safety engineer at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Andrew Rich, regional clinical manager of Diligent Services.

PEF member David Crugnale of the Oxford Veterans’ Home received the safe patient handling activist award.

Below are some comments from four PEF members who attended the conference.