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Ergonomics Publications
The following documents are in PDF format. You must have Adobe Reader installed to view them. Adobe Reader can be downloaded for free from www.adobe.com

These handbooks are available to download from the website. BC healthcare stakeholders can order full hard copies of these handbooks by contacting OHSAH, or ordering copies online (per facility limits may be in effect). Please note that OHSAH charges for product orders from out-of-province or non-healthcare organizations. Contact OHSAH for pricing information.

Handbooks | Project Focus | Project Updates | Posters | Reports

Handbooks

Adaptive Clothing Resource Guide
Adaptive clothing is clothing that has been modified to make it easier for workers to dress residents, which in turn helps to minimize awkward joint movements, pain, and discomfort. This practical guide is for anyone who wants to implement an adaptive clothing program, and will help you to tailor your program to the specific needs and requirements of your facility.

An Ergonomics Guide for Hospital Laundries
This guide provides practical information on how to make your laundry department a safer place to work. It will help you to work through the ergonomic process, detect injury risks and put in place ways to prevent injuries.  Appendices include a signs and symptoms survey, risk factor identification checklist, WorkSafeBC ergonomics requirements, implementation guideline, stretching route, and references.

An Ergonomics Guide for Hospital Pharmacies

This guide provides practical information on how to make a hospital pharmacy a safer place to work. It will help you work through the ergonomic process, detect musculoskeletal injury risks, and implement effective control measures to prevent injury in the pharmacy of your healthcare facility.

An Ergonomics Guide for Kitchens in Healthcare

With practical information on how to make a healthcare kitchen a safer place to work, this guide will help you work through the ergonomic process, detect musculoskeletal injury risks, and implement effective control measures to prevent injury in the kitchen of your healthcare facility.

Ceiling Lift Program Guide

This workbook-style Ceiling Lift Program Guide will help joint ceiling lift steering teams to plan and implement a ceiling lift program at affiliate long-term facilities in BC. The guide includes reference materials and practical tools to assist a team through a step-by-step process. Also included are resources for developing key program components, such as policies and procedures, adaptive clothing, and musculoskeletal injury (MSI) awareness and prevention education and training; and information on how to access other industry resources, such as those from the Health Authorities and equipment manufacturers.

It Doesn't Have to Hurt: A Guide for Implementing Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MSIP) Programs in Healthcare

This guide provides resources and guidelines for implementing a comprehensive MSIP program in healthcare facilities. A well-implemented MSIP program that includes supervisors and workers has a far greater impact on workplace wellness than simply preventing injury. It can:

  • Provide an opportunity for workers to participate in decisions that influence how their work is performed
  • Foster positive communication between workers and supervisors
  • Provide an opportunity for workers to learn
Available in CD-Rom format. If you are not able to access a CD-Rom drive, please contact OHSAH for an alternate format.

Using Carts in Healthcare: A Resource Guide for Reducing Musculoskeletal Injury

This guide provides practical information on the safe use of carts in the healthcare environment with a focuses on using carts to reduce the physical effort required for transporting supplies and the risk of musculoskeletal injury associated with manual materials handling.

Project Focus

Project Focus

Project Updates

Project Updates

Posters

Stretch it Out!
Stretch-break guide to relieve muscle tension and reduce the risk of injury.
Size: 11 x 17 in.
Download: Stretch it Out.pdf (full size)

What Makes Good Footwear for Work?

How to choose safe footwear for healthcare working environments. Accompanying brochure is also available.

Size: 11 x 17 in.
Download: What Makes Good Footwear.pdf (full size)

Reducing Risks of Injuries to Laundry Workers

Practical tips for hospital laundry work.

Size: 11 x 17 in.
Download: Reducing Risks.pdf (full size)

Reports

Technological Innovations in Occupational Health and Safety in the Healthcare Industry
Technology can play an essential role in workplace health and safety, minimizing or eliminating work-related injuries and illnesses.

Research has been conducted to identify emerging technologies that have the potential to reduce or prevent the risk of injury faced by healthcare workers. The content focuses on technology that reduces the risk of MSI, technologies in disease prevention, violence and working alone, and home and community care, as well as, information on two OHSAH initiatives about the development of a medication cart and a pill crusher, in partnership with the BCIT Health Technology Research Group.

Last Updated: February 3, 2010.