The following is a summary of a paper presented at the 2010 Conference for the Australian Association for the Manual Handling of People held in Sydney, Australia on 13th -14th October 2010.
Anecdotal evidence and a small amount of data supports the link between manual handling
injuries and falls. The higher the number of falls the higher the number of manual handling
injuries and conversely the lower the number of falls the lower the number of manual handling
injuries. Unfortunately no research currently exists to support this link.
Current practices in manual handling (i.e. Identify the level of mobility assistance required)
may mistakenly be interpreted as falls prevention, despite their intent being to reduce manual
handling injuries to staff. This poses a number of problems as far as falls prevention is
concerned:
• Because of the assumed falls preventing qualities of assisted mobility strategies, staff are
reluctant to take on board the falls prevention message as they think they are already
doing as much as can be done)
• Manual handling systems offer ways to manage the perceived level of risk, but nothing to
reduce the risk.
• They only considers one intrinsic risk factor as significant in causing falls -‘mobility
status’. Yet the evidence is that falls are the functional outcome of a host of interacting
factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic. (ACSQHC, 2009.)
• The biggest limitation of these system as far as falls prevention is concerned, is the fact
that more than 60% of falls are unwitnessed (ACSQHC, 2009.). This means no staff are
present to provide the assistance that these systems are dependent on.
Preventing falls and harm from falls approach is largely concerned with safety of the older
person and looks at the individual risk factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic for that person and
aims to reduce identified risk factors. (Preventing falls and harm from falls in older people in
Australian Hospitals, Residential Aged Care and Community Care, Australian Commission for
Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC, 2009.)
http://www.safetyandquality.g ov.au/internet/safety/publishin g.nsf/Content/FallsGuidelines
There is overlap between manual handling and falls prevention, however, with both manual
handling and falls prevention looking at the systems, equipment, practices of care and the
environment. BUT they look at these things from different perspectives. As the Occupational
Health and Safety (OH&S) approach and tools has been around the longest, people tend to
assume that these tools will suffice for falls prevention as well, but problems are created when
only the OH&S tools and processes are used, as in practice, they are staff focused.
MANUAL HANDLING PREVENTION OF FALLS AND
HARM FROM FALLS
Systems: no or minimal lift. risk identification and reduction
through multifactorial and
multidisciplinary strategies.
Equipment lifters, sliding sheets etc. aimed at
reducing strain on workers, also
equipment that is perceived to
manage the risk of falling, such as
bed alarms, etc. – largely staff
focused.
to promote function and
independence of the older person
e.g. mobility aids, and to decrease
potential harm in the event of a fall
e.g. hip protectors.
Care Practice Focus on staff safety, which results
in limited strategies to manage the
identified risk of falls:
• increase monitoring and
surveillance
Focused on optimising function and
minimising falls and harm from falls
risk factors
• Minimise bed rest
• Promote independence and
• ii• il iviivi• ltiial
ltidiipliiminimii• lilily
lil iiil il
ifiil iimiiiiifiiiiprovde more assstance
reduce physcaactty.
actty
Mufactorand
muscnary strateges to
se rsk factors
Invove and nform oder person
and famEnvironment Reguar envronmentaaudts to
dentfy generaenvronmentahazards
Specc envronmentastrateges to
optse the safety of the
envronment to match the patent’s
dented rsk factors, at every
contact wth the patent.
Conclusion:
To reduce falls as a potential cause of injury to both staff and recipients of care, we need to
both manage the identified level of risk and reduce falls risk factors.
prevention message as they think they are already doing as much as can be done)
• Manual handling systems offer ways to manage the perceived level of risk, but nothing to reduce the risk.
• They only considers one intrinsic risk factor as significant in causing falls -‘mobility status’. Yet the evidence is that falls are the functional outcome of a host of interacting factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic. (ACSQHC, 2009.)
• The biggest limitation of these system as far as falls prevention is concerned, is the fact that more than 60% of falls are unwitnessed (ACSQHC, 2009.). This means no staff are present to provide the assistance that these systems are dependent on.
Preventing falls and harm from falls approach is largely concerned with safety of the older person and looks at the individual risk factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic for that person and aims to reduce identified risk factors. (Preventing falls and harm from falls in older people in Australian Hospitals, Residential Aged Care and Community Care, Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC, 2009.)
http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/internet/safet y/publishing.nsf/Content/FallsGuidelines
There is overlap between manual handling and falls prevention, however, with both manual handling and falls prevention looking at the systems, equipment, practices of care and the environment. BUT they look at these things from different perspectives. As the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) approach and tools has been around the longest, people tend to assume that these tools will suffice for falls prevention as well, but problems are created when only the OH&S tools and processes are used, as in practice, they are staff focused.
No picture available
Manual handling and falls prevention: What’s the link?
Pam Dean, BAppScOT, MHlthSc(OT) , Master trainer, Preventing Falls and Harm from falls in older people, Safety & Quality Unit, SA.
lower the number of falls the lower the number of manual handling
injuries. Unfortunately no research currently exists to support this link.
Current practices in manual handling (i.e. Identify the level of mobility assistance required) may mistakenly be interpreted as falls prevention, despite their intent being to reduce manual handling injuries to staff. This poses a number of problems as far as falls prevention is concerned:
• Because of the assumed falls preventing qualities of assisted mobility strategies, staff are reluctant to take on board the falls prevention message as they think they are already
doing as much as can be done)
• Manual handling systems offer ways to manage the perceived level of risk, but nothing to
reduce the risk.
• They only considers one intrinsic risk factor as significant in causing falls -‘mobility
status’. Yet the evidence is that falls are the functional outcome of a host of interacting
factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic. (ACSQHC, 2009.)
• The biggest limitation of these system as far as falls prevention is concerned, is the fact
that more than 60% of falls are unwitnessed (ACSQHC, 2009.). This means no staff are
present to provide the assistance that these systems are dependent on.
Preventing falls and harm from falls approach is largely concerned with safety of the older
person and looks at the individual risk factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic for that person and
aims to reduce identified risk factors. (Preventing falls and harm from falls in older people in
Australian Hospitals, Residential Aged Care and Community Care, Australian Commission for
Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC, 2009.)
http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/internet/safety/publishing.nsf /Content/FallsGuidelines
There is overlap between manual handling and falls prevention, however, with both manual
handling and falls prevention looking at the systems, equipment, practices of care and the
environment. BUT they look at these things from different perspectives. As the Occupational
Health and Safety (OH&S) approach and tools has been around the longest, people tend to
assume that these tools will suffice for falls prevention as well, but problems are created when
only the OH&S tools and processes are used, as in practice, they are staff focused.
MANUAL HANDLING PREVENTION OF FALLS AND
HARM FROM FALLS
Systems: no or minimal lift. risk identification and reduction
through multifactorial and
multidisciplinary strategies.
Equipment lifters, sliding sheets etc. aimed at
reducing strain on workers, also
equipment that is perceived to
manage the risk of falling, such as
bed alarms, etc. – largely staff
focused.
to promote function and
independence of the older person
e.g. mobility aids, and to decrease
potential harm in the event of a fall
e.g. hip protectors.
Care Practice Focus on staff safety, which results
in limited strategies to manage the
identified risk of falls:
• increase monitoring and
surveillance
Focused on optimising function and
minimising falls and harm from falls
risk factors
• Minimise bed rest
• Promote independence and
• ii• il iviivi• ltiial
ltidiipliiminimii• lilily
lil iiil il
ifiil iimiiiiifiiiiprovde more assstance
reduce physcaactty.
actty
Mufactorand
muscnary strateges to
se rsk factors
Invove and nform oder person
and famEnvironment Reguar envronmentaaudts to
dentfy generaenvronmentahazards
Specc envronmentastrateges to
optse the safety of the
envronment to match the patent’s
dented rsk factors, at every
contact wth the patent.
Conclusion:
To reduce falls as a potential cause of injury to both staff and recipients of care, we need to
both manage the identified level of risk and reduce falls risk factors.
Conclusion:
To reduce falls as a potential cause of injury to both staff and recipients of care, we need to both manage the identified level of risk and reduce falls risk factors.
|
|
MANUAL HANDLING |
PREVENTION OF FALLS AND HARM FROM FALLS |
|
Systems: |
No or minimal lift |
Risk identification and reduction through multi-factorial and multi-disciplinary stratergies |
|
Equipment: |
lifters, slide sheets etc. aimed at reducing strain, also equipment perceived to manage the risk of falling, such as bed alarms, etc. – largely staff focused |
to promote function and independence of the older person e.g. mobility aids, and to decrease hazards in the event of a fall e.g. hip protectors |
|
Care Practice: |
Focus on staff safety, which results in limited strategies to manage the identified risk of falls:
|
Focused on optimising function and minimising falls and harm from falls risk factors
|
|
Environment: |
Reguar envronmental audts to identfy general envronmental hazards |
Specify envronmental strateges to optimise the safety of the envronment to match the patent’s identified rsk factors, at every contact wth the patent |
Designed & created by
Gavin Wright
Terms & Conditions 30 Smilie, Peterlee, Co.Durham, England. SR8 4AN e-mail