At Beacon Mutual, we understand the invaluable contributions healthcare workers make every day in providing quality care to patients. We also recognize the importance of ensuring their safety and well-being in the workplace. As part of our commitment to supporting the healthcare industry. This article will feature our Caregiver Safety Series, a collection of essential resources aimed at preventing injuries and promoting safety among healthcare professionals.
The Caregiver Safety Series
In our ongoing efforts to prevent the injuries of healthcare workers, Beacon's Ergonomic Team developed the Caregiver Safety Program to address common issues related to body mechanics, patient movement, and self-protection. As part of his program, the team designed a comprehensive set of guides, conveniently located in our Safety Library, covering a wide range of topics specifically tailored to the healthcare industry. You can download any of the Caregiver Safety Series guides, listed below, and email them to workers or use them as payroll stuffers, posters, safety huddle talking points, or as reference materials following a safety training. Whether you are a nurse, physician, therapist, or support staff member, these resources are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a safe work environment.
Body Mechanics Caregiver Guides
Proper body mechanics are crucial in minimizing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, which can significantly impact the well-being of caregivers. Our Caregiver Program offers guides that delve into the correct body mechanics techniques for lifting, transferring, and positioning patients. By following these guidelines, healthcare workers can protect their own physical health while ensuring the safety and comfort of those under their care.
These guides are designed to provide ergonomic recommendations for movement in the healthcare setting:
- Working with Computers
- Gait/Transfer Belt
- Lying to Sitting
- Power Lift
- Tripod Lift
- Golfer’s Lift
- Staggered Stance
Patient Movement Caregiver Guides
Moving patients safely is a primary concern in healthcare settings. Our resources provide detailed information on best practices for patient movement, including tips for safe transfers, repositioning, and ambulation assistance. By adopting these techniques, caregivers can reduce the risk of patient falls and other accidents, safeguarding both themselves and the individuals they attend to.
These guides are designed to help prevent caregiver injuries while moving patients:
Self-Protection Caregiver Guides
Healthcare workers often encounter challenging situations that may put their personal safety at risk. To address this concern, our Caregiver Safety Series includes guides on self-protection strategies. These resources offer practical advice on preventing workplace violence, dealing with aggressive behavior, and implementing effective communication techniques. By equipping yourself with these skills, you can enhance your personal safety and diffuse potentially dangerous situations.
These guides are designed to provide techniques to caregivers for self-protection when working with patients:
- Bite Release
- Short Hair Grab
- Long Hair Grab
- Single Wrist Hold
- Thumb & Finger Release
- Two Hand Wrist Hold
Making the Most of the Resources
We understand the importance of accessibility and flexibility when it comes to utilizing these resources. The Caregiver Safety Series guides can be easily downloaded from our Safety Library and shared with your colleagues via email. Additionally, these materials can be utilized in various ways such as payroll stuffers, posters, safety huddle talking points, or reference materials during training sessions. We encourage you to leverage these resources to foster a culture of safety within your healthcare organization.
The Caregiver Training Program
For over 20 years, Beacon has been delivering innovative, industry-specific worker training programs that specifically address the needs of caregivers. Beacon offers a Caregiver Safety Training program, seminars and webinars, and on-demand online safety courses at no cost to policyholders!
Our Caregiver Training Program contains two modules: Body Mechanics and Self-Protection. A Beacon Mutual representative will offer these safe patient handling and behavioral health modules together or separately, according to your preference. Each in-person module involves a combination of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on skills practice. The time for each module varies between 30-60 minutes, depending on the level of hands-on practice desired for each caregiver.
Beacon also offers one-hour seminars and webinars led by our safety experts where we will address potential safety and ergonomic risks for your healthcare facility. Some of the topics offered throughout the year include Bloodborne Pathogens, Safe Patient Handling and Movement, and Violence in the Workplace.
Last but not least, Beacon's Online University features more than 100 core health & safety courses. Policyholder employees are welcome to take these courses at any time, 24/7. In the Healthcare Campus, we offer classes that are specific to caregivers including Safe Patient Handling and Preventing Strains and Sprains.
Beacon's Safety Services
Ergonomics and other safety services are free to our policyholders and clients.
If you are interested in Caregiver Training for your workplace, we encourage you to download the Caregiver Training Overview and contact the Safety Team. To learn more about on-site training, safety program development, assessments, and more, visit Safety Services.
