A Back Injury Prevention Guide for Health Care Providers

Developed by: Cal/OSHA (California Division of the Occupational Safety and Health Association)

Description: A detailed report for healthcare workers on ways to manage lower back disorders at work. This resource includes a discussion of why lifting and transferring poses a risk to the lower back, additional challenges faced by healthcare professionals over other occupational lifters, ways to assess lifting and patient transferring at work, and possible solutions. This resource also includes full versions of checklists as well as extra information on lift-assists, common healthcare equipment/furniture, and other ergonomic devices.

The information in the report was current at the time of its writing (1997), but some information has changed or been updated as the field has progressed since then.

Keywords: lifting, transferring, carry, move, healthcare, back, low back, prevention, lift-assist, equipment, checklist, tool