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I think it's important at this point to really take a closer look at the benefits and cost effectiveness of implementing a safe moving and handling of people program. To quote OSHA directly, "Businesses that have implemented "injury prevention efforts, focusing on resident lifting "and repositioning methods, have achieved considerable "success in reducing work-related injuries "and associated workers' compensation costs. "Providing a safer and more comfortable work environment "has also resulted in additional benefits for some "facilities, including reduced staff turnover "and associated training and administrative costs, "reduced absenteeism, increase productivity, "improved employee morale, and increased resident comfort. "These guidelines provide recommendations for employers "to help them reduce the number and severity "of work-related musculoskeletal disorders "in their facilities using methods "that have been found to be successful "in the nursing home and health care environment." To really drive the benefits home, I'd like to start with three public case studies that were provided by OSHA. First, let's look at Wyandot County Nursing Home in the Upper Sandusky, Ohio area. They've implemented a policy of performing all assisted resident transfers with mechanical lifts, and have purchased electrically adjustable beds. And according to Wyandot, no back injuries from resident lifting have occurred in over five years. The nursing home also reported that workers' compensation costs have declined from an average of almost $140,000 per year to less than $4,000 per year. Reduced absenteeism and overtime have resulted in annual savings of approximately $55,000. And a reduction in costs associated with staff turnover have saved an additional $125,000. Secondly, after implementing a program designed to eliminate manual lifting of residents, the Schoellkopf Health Center in Niagara Falls, New York reports a downward trend in the number and severity of injuries, with lost work days dropping from 364 to just 52, light duty days dropping from 253 to a mere 25, and workers' compensation losses falling from $84,533 to $6,900. Thirdly, and the last case study I'm gonna look at is Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility in Bolivar, Missouri. Establishing an ergonomics component in the existing safety and health program was reportedly followed by a reduction in the number of OSHA recordable lifting related injuries of at least 45% during each of the next four years. When compared to the level of injuries prior to the ergonomics efforts, the number of lost work days associated with lifting-related injuries was reported to be at least 55% lower than levels during each of the previous four years. Citizens Memorial reported that these reductions contributed to a direct savings of approximately $150,000 in a workers' compensation class over a five year period.
Businesses that implement a safe moving and lifting people program can reduce staff turn-over, reduce training and administrative costs, improve employee morale, and increase patient comfort.