Safe Patient Handling

According to a fact sheet from OSHA, over 50 percent of injuries and illnesses reported by nurses and nursing assistants were musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) related to patient interactions. Additionally, 2016 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that healthcare patients accounted for 67% of hospital RN musculoskeletal disorders with the most affected body part being the back, leading to significant days away from work. Safe patient handling programs can help prevent injuries both to patients and workers.