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When is it safe to manually lift a patient?
1Division of Applied Research and Technology at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA. trw1@cdc.gov
The American Journal of Nursing
|August 2, 2007
Summary
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lifting equation can assess patient handling. It recommends a 35-lb limit for safe manual lifting, advising assistive devices for heavier loads.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Ergonomics
- Biomechanics
Background:
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation in 1994 as an ergonomics tool.
- NIOSH excluded patient-handling tasks from the equation's scope due to perceived complexity and numerous variables.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the applicability of the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation to specific patient-handling scenarios.
- To determine a recommended weight limit for manual patient lifting tasks using the equation.
Main Methods:
- Applied the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation to analyze manual patient-handling tasks.
- Calculated the recommended weight limit for scenarios with cooperative patients and minimal sudden movements.
Main Results:
- The equation can be used for a limited range of patient-handling tasks.
- The general recommended maximum weight limit for manual patient handling is 35 lbs.
- Exceeding this 35-lb limit necessitates the use of assistive devices.
Conclusions:
- The Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation provides a valuable framework for assessing manual patient-handling risks.
- A 35-lb maximum weight limit is suggested for safe patient lifting, emphasizing the need for mechanical aids when this threshold is surpassed.
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