Sign signals safe lifting practices practiced here
Symbols designed to change behavior
Signs are everywhere in a hospital: No Smoking. Authorized Personnel Only. Caution: Radiation. So can one more sign protect nurses' backs?
The green "Safe Lifting Environment" sign features a hand pushing a button and a stick figure sitting on a lift. It signals the use of patient-handling equipment to reduce musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries.
The symbol was created by Liko Inc., a Franklin, MA-based vendor of patient handling equipment, as a nonproprietary emblem (without a Liko logo) to be used freely by anyone who needs to boost compliance with a safe-lifting program.
"Our experience says that people don't automatically do what we want them to do — but they will stop at the end of the street if there's a stop sign," says Dan Gilmore, Liko's director of marketing.
The sign defines the environment, says Gilmore. "We're establishing boundaries where safe lifting really should be practiced," he says.
Several hospitals already have used the signs as a tool to promote awareness. The logo is available on lapel pins, buttons, and drink tumblers.
At the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, the logo provides a visual image of the patients' lift needs. The logo is on the white boards attached to each patient's bed, where nurses and aides can find information about what assistive device should be used with the patient.
"It's a communication device," says Patti Wawzyniecki, MS, an industrial hygienist who specializes in ergonomics. "We're trying to get people to use the aides and equipment on a more regular basis."
Liko also has established a web site (www.safeliftingportal.com) to spread information about safe lifting, with tools to help hospitals implement a safe-lifting program. The logo is available on that site. It also provides a "cost savings calculator" that employee health professionals can use to estimate the potential benefit of injury reduction. Its resources include information on safe patient-handling legislation in various states, a newsletter with updates, and a sample safe-lifting policy.
"We wanted to create a clearinghouse where people could go to access information on safe lifting," Gilmore says.
Signs are everywhere in a hospital: 'No Smoking. Authorized Personnel Only. Caution: Radiation.' So can one more sign protect nurses' backs?You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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