Nursing home operators cited for back injuries
Beverly Enterprises Inc., one of the nation’s largest nursing home operators, will adopt specific measures to reduce back injuries for employees involved in lifting nursing home residents, as part of a settlement agreement announced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The company also has agreed to establish a training program and purchase mechanical lift equipment.
The settlement applies to all Beverly Enterprises facilities within federal OSHA jurisdiction, according to a report from OSHA. The agreement settles citations issued by OSHA to five Pennsylvania nursing homes following a 15-month investigation that began in May 1991 in response to complaints that workers were suffering back injuries related to lifting and transferring residents. The agency found that the company’s injury and illness records revealed numerous musculoskeletal injuries sustained by nursing assistants that resulted in extensive lost work time and restricted work duty.
The Service Employees International Union, District Local 1199P and Local 668, which represent workers at the Pennsylvania facilities, also signed the settlement agreement. Under terms of the agreement, Beverly agreed to withdraw its contest of the citations and OSHA agreed to withdraw the proposed penalties.
Beverly Enterprises Inc., headquartered in Fort. Smith, AR, is one of the largest nursing home operators in the United States. The company currently operates approximately 240 nursing homes that are covered by this settlement.
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