Sue Alexander Ergonomics Advisor, Canterbury District Health Board (P48, Wednesday, NZI 5 Room, 4-4.30)

1. Painting the Safer Handling
Picture – not just training!
Sue Alexander
Ergonomics Advisor
MHANZ Conference March 2012

2. Overview
• Training issues
• Support and understanding of managers
• Using scenarios as a reality check
• Outcomes and steps to get there
• The Safer Handling picture

3. Training – the issues?
• Visible and measurable
• “Silver bullet”
• Time consuming (skill development)
• Content and duration debate
• Simulation or “on the job”?
• Ineffective in isolation – multi-factorial issues
How to embed into everyday work?
Why doesn’t this happen?

4. Leaders and decision-makers
• Preconceived ideas of entry level
knowledge and skills of new staff
• Familiarity with current best practice
• Other priorities
Budget constraints, productivity,
patient safety
Understanding and support?

5. “Big picture” – scenario 1:
Reality Check
• New grad nurse – stroke ward 6 weeks
• Hurt back lifting patient in hoist – ACC claim
$40k (surgery)
• Sling incorrectly attached – mismatch of sling
to hoist
• Limited space around bed – twisted
• Skin tear for patient – extended stay

6. “Big picture” – scenario 2:
The future …
• Standardised equipment
• E-learning of principles
• Local champion
• Team approach for managing individual
patient handling needs
• Manager proactively manages issues
Consistent, coordinated, sustainable approach

7. Outcomes and benefits
• Patient safety and comfort
• Reduced injury costs
• Efficiency and productivity
• Best practice strategies used
• Improved morale
What are the steps to get there?

8. Steps or “building blocks”
Application of safer handling
best practice principles –
“the way we do it here”
Equipment Facility design Training Communication
Accountability Assess tasks Trainers and Employee
and policies (risks) resources participation
Commitment and Incident Hazard
Leadership Management Mangement

9. Painting the picture
• Clear and simple
• Interaction of components
• Based on a framework of principles
• Connection with other initiatives

10. Safer Handling Programme
overview

11. Summary
• Managers are pivotal to success
• They need to be aware of the real situation
• Agreement on outcomes – the challenge is
how to get there?
• Require appropriate equipment, suitable
facilities, champions, integrated systems
• Paint the picture – it’s not just training!