Recorded presentation

Kaori Fujishiro¹, Jean Lynn Weaver, PT, MBA², Catherine A Heaney, PhD, MPH¹, Christopher A. Hamrick, MS, CPE³, and William S. Marras, PhD, CPE⁴. (1) School of Public Health, Ohio State University, 320 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, (2) School of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 320 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, (419)448-1677, jweaver@findlay.edu, (3) Ergonomics Technical Advisor, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, 13430 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147, (4) Biodynamics Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 1917 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210

Background: The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) offers Safety Grants to employers for implementing interventions to reduce work-related injuries. Employers are required to demonstrate the need for such interventions, provide support for the proposed intervention’s potential efficacy, and provide baseline and follow-up injury data. This study focused on interventions involving patient lifting/transporting at 130 healthcare work sites. Data was analyzed to examine the effectiveness of the BWC Safety Grants Program in reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among healthcare employees.

Methods: Interventions were categorized according to the benefit to the employee: reduced bending, elimination of lifting, reduced lifting/carrying, and other. For both baseline and follow-up periods, MSD rates were calculated as the number of MSDs divided by employee hours worked during each time period, multiplied by 200,000 hours. Differences in MSD rates between the baseline and follow-up were then analyzed using nonparametric methods.

Results: MSD rates significantly declined from baseline to follow-up (Z=-5.193, p<.001). Eighty-three (64%) of the work sites experienced a reduction in MSD rates. The median reduction in MSD rates was 51%. Comparisons of the effectiveness of the three intervention types will be provided, along with the cost per injury prevented for each of the intervention types.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence that ergonomic interventions that have proven efficacy in controlled trials can effectively reduce MSDs in health care facilities, even without the technical assistance and careful oversight provided in research projects. Acknowledgement: The support of the Ohio BWC in providing data for this research is greatly appreciated.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to

• Describe the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Safety Grant Program,
• Identify the extent to which sponsored interventions in healthcare facilities have been effective.

Keywords: Workers' Compensation, Health Care Workers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation