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623 Healthcare: Preventing Ergonomic Injuries
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Introduction

All healthcare workers who lift and move patients are at high risk for back injury and other musculoskeletal disorders. A work-related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is an injury of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, cartilage, bones, or blood vessels in the arms, legs, head, neck, or back that is caused or aggravated by work tasks such as lifting, pushing, and pulling.

This course will take a closer look at ways employees can help prevent MSDs in their profession. It will also provide mechanical techniques to protect them from injuries when lifting and transferring patients.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, you should be able to:
ID Objective
TO 1.0 Achieve a minimum score of 70% on the final course assessment.
LO 1.1.1 Discuss the importance of an effective safety and health program to ensure effective ergonomics.
LO 1.1.2 Describe the tasks in healthcare that pose increased risk of ergonomic injuries.
LO 1.1.3 Discuss the ergonomic hazards and safe practices to mitigate those hazards in healthcare.
LO 1.1.4 Describe workplace analysis and training requirements.
LO 1.2.1 Describe patient handling control measures and equipment used to help prevent ergonomic injuries.
LO 1.3.1 Discuss the hazards of awkward postures, reaching, lifting, and using hand tools.

Key: Terminal Objective (TO), Learning Objective (LO)