Designed & created by
Gavin Wright
Terms & Conditions 30 Smilie Road, Peterlee, Co.Durham, England. SR8 4AN e-mail
In the UK we have the young persons regulations designed to cater for the inexperience of teenagers. In a nutshell, it basically says we must take particular attention regarding the risks this part of the population are exposed to. This has led to all sorts of interpretations as well as misinterpretations.
This is no misinterpretation though. In the USA, teenagers are not allowed to use patient lifting hoists as they are seen as being dangerous. Hazardous Order No. 7 mentioned in Fact
Sheet #52—The Employment of Youth in the Health Care
Industry prohibits minors under 18 from operating or assisting in the operation of most power-driven hoists, including those designed to lift and move patients.
On December the 17th 2010, 4 senators approached the Deputy Administrator of the Department of Labor's (DOL's) Wage and Hour Division (WHD), asking the WHD to take "immediate action" to amend the restrictions placed on the use of, and assistance with, patient lifts by teenagers.
The letter can be read by following the link below but as a result of the letter, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, which is chaired by Sen. Kohl has focused some attention on the issue. The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) hopes to leverage Congressional involvement in the issue to bring about regulatory action by the DOL.
Please take the time to contact Senator Klobuchar and thank her for her support of this issue. You can do so via email by clicking on the following link: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm. Please select "Opinion or Question on an issue" to be connected to the proper email form.
Thanks to Candy Wolff of Medcare products for bringing this to our attention.
Sen. Amy klobuchar
