Publications

Washington State Health Care Workers Get a Back Break

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospitals, followed closely by nursing homes and residential care facilities, had the highest rates of injuries and illnesses in 2004. Moving and repositioning patients was the cause of most of these injuries.

In Washington state, Gov. Christine Gregoire (a former AFSCME member and social worker) signed a new law to promote moving and lifting practices that are safer for both the worker and the patient. Effective June 7, the law — the most comprehensive of its kind — requires hospitals to:

  • establish safe patient handling committees by Feb. 1, 2007;
  • create a safe patient handling program by Dec. 1, 2007;
  • conduct patient handling assessments;
  • provide annual staff training and;
  • conduct annual performance evaluations.

In addition, the bill encourages hospitals to incorporate safe handling equipment in architectural designs for new construction or remodeling. The measure also provides a one time tax credit to hospitals of $1,000 for each acute care bed to encourage the use of mechanical lift equipment.

It is hoped that the new law may serve as a model for legislation in other states. Ohio passed a similar law, but Washington's is the most far-reaching. Several state legislatures, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, are currently considering similar bills.

Print Version