Published on: May 20, 2021

Moving and handling people are leading causes of injury among workers in health care and social services. The information in this updated safety bulletin is designed to help reduce the risk of injury to health care workers.

Workers who manually transfer or reposition patients are at significant risk of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) such as sprains or strains. This updated safety bulletin outlines the risk assessments employers and workers should do to help reduce the risk of MSIs.

 

 

 

The full suite of resources on this topic includes the following:

• Patient handling: Assessing the risks
• Patient handling: Overhead lift vs. floor lifts — what’s the difference?
• Patient handling: Using slings with overhead lifts and floor lifts
• Patient handling: Soaker pads
• Moving and handling people: Reducing the risk
• Regular inspections of floor lifts
• Regular inspections of overhead lifts

Separately or together, you can use these resources as aids or discussion points at your next safety talk or joint health and safety committee meeting.

View our Patient handling webpage for these and other resources on the topic.