- Title
- Effect of a nurse back injury prevention intervention on the rate of injury compensation claims
- Creator
- Martin, Peter; Harvey, Jack; Culvenor, John; Payne, Warren
- Date
- 2009
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/61866
- Identifier
- vital:1788
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2008.10.013
- Identifier
- ISSN:0022-4375
- Abstract
- Problem: This study evaluated the effect of introducing a No Lifting policy on back injuries to nurses, across an entire health care system. Methods: Methods included: analysis of the data for all public health agencies in the Australian state of Victoria; compensation data from the Victorian Workcover Authority; data about workforce and program implementation from a retrospective survey of agencies; longitudinal analysis of standardized workers compensation claim rates for back injuries before, during and after the intervention. Results: A statistically significant decline in back injury claim rates during implementation contrasted with no statistically significant trends within the periods before and after the intervention. A statistically significant reduction occurred in mean quarterly standard back injury claim incidence rates per 1,000 equivalent fulltime nursing staff (EFTNS), representing a 24% reduction in standard back injury claims/1000 EFTNS. Discussion: Ergonomics principles encourage changing the work environment to suit the worker. This approach delivered a significant improvement in the immediate term. Impact of industry: The substantial decline in back injury rates signifies a major improvement in the safety of a critical aspect of the work environment for nurses. © 2009 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd.
- Publisher
- National Safety Council and Elsevier
- Relation
- Journal of Safety Research Vol. 40, no. 1 (2009), p. 13-19
- Rights
- Copyright National Safety Council and Elsevier
- Rights
- Open Access
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- Back injuries and prevention; Evaluation of occupational health and safety interventions; Longitudinal analysis; No lifting; Nursing
- Full Text
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