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Rhode Island to Eliminate Manual Patient Lifting

A bill that could prevent back injuries among health care workers and reduce patient injuries has passed both houses in Rhode Island and is on its way to the governor’s desk.

The legislation, called the Safe Patient Handling Act of 2006 (H.B. 7386/S.B. 2760), would require every licensed health care facility to set up a committee to develop a safe patient handling program, with policies aimed at preventing musculoskeletal disorders among workers and injuries to patients. The committee would be chaired by a nurse. The bill would also require facilities to implement rules to eliminate manual lifting, transferring and repositioning of patients.

Any Certificate of Need application for construction or renovation of patient care units would be required to provide for the use of safe patient handling equipment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2004 Rhode Island’s hospitals reported about 1,600 workplace injuries or illnesses (about 9.8 per 100 full-time workers). Nursing homes reported about 1,400 injuries or illnesses (11.1 per 100 full-time workers), more than twice the private-sector average of 5.2 per 100.

The bill is similar to one that was enacted in Washington state earlier this year (see UNA Action, Spring 2006).

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