Tool Box

Information & Resources For Stakeholders – Tool Box

This page provides links to downloadable tools developed by OCHE and its member organizations that are can be adapted for use in your ergonomics and/or safe patient handling/resident programs.  Materials provided are solely for non-commercial, instructional, personal, or scholarly purposes.

Tools listed on this page can also be found on other topical pages of this website together with many other resources.

On this page:

Safe Patient Handling Tools

Fact Sheets

Training Resources

Choosing Equipment and Developing Procedures

Information for Patients and Families

Ergonomics Tools

Ergonomics Resources from Oregon OSHA

Computer and Lab Ergonomics

Materials Handling

Ergonomics for EMS Workers

TQM pic

Safe Patient Handling

Fact Sheets

Safe Patient Handling: A Summary of the Issue and Solutions: The Evidence Base (2009). Enos, L. A summary of current literature and data about Safe Patient Handling related issues developed for the Coalition for Healthcare Worker and Patient Safety (CHAPS). Includes an extensive reference list.

The Need for Safe Patient Handling Programs in Home Health and Hospice (2009). Enos, L. A & Severson, L.  A summary of current literature and data about Safe Patient Handling related issues in Home Health developed for the Coalition for Healthcare Worker and Patient Safety (CHAPS).

Manual Patient Handling vs. Safe Patient Handling. A one page quick guide from Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)

Training Resources

Safe Patient Handling in Health Care: Applied Ergonomics for Nurses and Health Care Workers andPatient Orientation (2004). This training program consists of DVD training materials for both employees and patients. A comprehensive train the trainer guide and PPT presentation is also included in this toolkit. Contact Pisith Kong at Oregon Nurses Association. Email:[email protected] for more information.

Safe Resident Handling Program Guide for Long Term Care Facilities (2009). Oregon OSHA. The purpose of this guide is to provide step-by-step instructions to assist long term care facilities in developing an effective and sustainable SRH program.

Slider Sheets and Safety Time Out and The 15 Second Patient Mobility Assessment - Pictorial Training Tools for Safe Patient Handling Practices courtesy of Kaiser Permanente NW.

 Safe Lift Logo (Plain)  Safe Lift Environment Logo  Safe Lift Equipment Logo  Logos that be downloaded and adapted as needed from the OCHE. Click on link and then save picture to your computer.

Choosing Equipment and Developing Procedures

Safe Patient Handling Program Resource Guide. Developed by the SPH team at Good Shepherd Medical Center, Hermiston, OR as part of a SPH pilot program funded by grants awarded from Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA)

Safe Patient Handling - Equipment Purchasing Checklist (2008). Developed by L. Enos, for the Oregon Coalition for Health Care Ergonomics (OCHE). This check list is designed to help you with the patient handling equipment assessment and purchase process. It should be used as part of a comprehensive a safe program plan.

Bariatric Clinical Pathways Guideline Document (MSWord)

Bariatric Care Quick Tips 2009 contains tips, tricks and best practices for safe moving and lifting and providing care of Bariatric patients. This resource is provided courtesy of Providence Health and Services, Oregon

Information for Patients & Families

SPH Equipment Information for Patients from Good Shepherd Medical Center, Hermiston, OR

A Guide to Equipment used to Safely Move, Lift and/or Reposition Patients or Residents. A brief guide for patients and families (ONA)

Ergonomics

Ergonomics Resources from Oregon OSHA

Safety Pays tool from Oregon OSHA. Safe Patient Handling Pays allows employers to enter the cost of injuries experienced in their workplace and the profit margin the program computes additional sales revenue necessary to cover the incurred costs of injuries. Its primary function is to raise awareness and concern about the negative effects of injuries on business.

A Variety of Ergonomics topics from Oregon OSHA including

This site contains links to a variety of tools & resources related to ergonomics

Ergonomics Evaluation Tools from Washington Labor and Industries

Computer and Lab Ergonomics

Office Ergonomics. Website with links to multiple resources including videos from SAIF, Inc.,Oregon.

Ergonomics Checklist for Computer workstations. Courtesy of L. Enos

Evaluating Your Computer Workstation(2004). Oregon OSHA

Office ergonomics: Self assessment worksheet. SAIF, Inc., Oregon.

Workstation Comfort Neutral Posture. An educational poster from SAIF, Inc., Oregon.

Ergonomics Checklist for Laboratories. Courtesy of L. Enos

Materials Handling

Materials Handling Checklist- Brief. Courtesy of L. Enos

Oregon OSHA's easy lift app uses a modified version of the NIOSH lifting equation to give the user a maximum safe weight for various lifting scenarios.

Ergonomics for EMS Workers
Fire Fighter and Emergency Medical Services Ergonomics Training Curriculum An 8-hour ergonomics training program for fire and emergency medical personnel that includescurriculum, instructor guide, DVD with video and PowerPoint slides, and transparency masters. The program can be taught individually or as an entire class, and covers basics of ergonomics, hazard analysis and potential solutions, bodymechanics and fitness, setting up an ergonomics program and ergonomics for command staff. The curriculum is available free of charge and was developed by the Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) at the University of Oregon with a grant from Oregon OSHA.

Ergonomics for EMS: Solutions for safe patient handling and more. Ideas for ergonomics solutions to reduce the risk of MSDs in EMS personnel including equipment for safe patient handling. Prepared by Laurel Kincl, PhD and Jennifer Hess, DC, MPH, PhD, University of Oregon, LERC. 

Ergonomics Issues In Paramedic Duties: A Case Study (PDF)  A PowerPoint presentation bySteve Morrissey, Ergonomics Consultant, Oregon OSHA Consultative Services (2008).