References

Anderson SP, Oakman J. Allied health professionals and work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review. Saf Health Work. 2016; 7:(4)259-267 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2016.04.001

What are the effects of sickness absence on your workplace? Occupational Health Business Management. 2015. https://tinyurl.com/tv9f8r7 (accessed 5 March 2020)

Davis KG, Kotowski SE. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders for nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health care. Hum Factors. 2015; 57:(5)754-792 https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720815581933

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Musculoskeletal disorders. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/zudg33w (accessed 5 March 2020)

Health and Safety Executive. The Scottish manual handling passport scheme. 2014. https://tinyurl.com/y3apujq8 (accessed 5 March 2020)

Health and Safety Executive. Work related musculoskeletal disorder statistics (WRMSDs) in Great Britain, 2019a. 2019a. https://tinyurl.com/r3rmua7 (accessed 11 March 2020)

Health and Safety Executive. Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain, 2019. 2019b. https://tinyurl.com/smloxfg (accessed 11 March 2020)

Health and Safety Executive. Risk factors associated with pushing and pulling. 2019c. https://tinyurl.com/ss4z8x8 (accessed 5 March 2020)

Hignett S, Fray M, Battevi N International consensus on manual handling of people in the healthcare sector: technical report ISO/TR 12296. Int J Ind Ergon. 2014; 44:(1)191-195 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2013.10.004

Johnstone J, Owen K. Implementation of an infant manual handling risk assessment tool. J Neonatal Nurs. 2017; 23:(6)290-293 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2017.06.003

King EC, Holliday PJ, Andrews GJ. Care challenges in the bathroom: the views of professional care providers working in clients' homes. J Appl Gerontol. 2018; 37:(4)493-515 https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464816649278

Manual Handling Operational Regulations 1992 (as amended). 1992. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/2793/contents/made (accessed 5 March 2020)

Work related musculoskeletal disorders in sonography. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/sg8gzpf (accessed 5 March 2020)

National Back Exchange standards in manual handling.Towcester: National Back Exchange; 2010

Nursing and Midwifery Council. Future nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurses. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/y6yhbcll (accessed 5 March 2020)

Benchmarking of the manual handling assessment charts. 2002. https://tinyurl.com/rauzhwo (accessed 5 March 2020)

Ribeiro T, Serranheira F, Loureiro H. Work related musculoskeletal disorders in primary health care nurses. Appl Nurs Res. 2017; 33:72-77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2016.09.003

Van Hoof W, O'Sullivan K, O'Keeffe M, Verschueren S, O'Sullivan P, Dankaerts W. The efficacy of interventions for low back pain in nurses: a systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2018; 77:222-231

WorksafeUK. TILEO for safe lifting and moving. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/vm6by7g (accessed 5 March 2020)

Manual handling: the challenges of different care environments

26 March 2020
Volume 29 · Issue 6

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) continue to be a problem in the health and social care setting, despite staff receiving mandatory manual handling training for many decades. The author discusses WRMSDs, with a focus on various nursing roles. The principle of manual handling as solely ‘person moving’ or ‘transferring’ is challenged because a range of activities can cause musculoskeletal problems. The legislation and regulations are explored in relation to practice. The benefits of introducing a specific risk-assessment tool designed for nurses working in neonatal wards is discussed.

According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2020) work-related low back pain and injuries are among of the most common musculoskeletal disorders caused by manual handling.

Back pain in staff working in the health sector has been a long-standing problem (Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2019a). Over the years, trusts have employed various manual-handling training schemes, and made equipment available to assist staff, carers and patients during manual-handling tasks. Equipment such as hoists is now commonplace in care settings, both in hospital and community settings (Davis and Kotowski, 2015). Despite this, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs), continue to be a problem (Ribeiro et al, 2017).

Health and social care work settings have higher than average reported instances of MSDs, with more than 1400 instances per 100 000 employees (HSE, 2019a). Only construction and the combined agriculture, forestry and fishing industries have higher rates (HSE, 2019a). Although nurses have historically suffered lower back pain (Van Hoof et al, 2018), MSDs affect all muscles, joints and tendons of the body and manifest as lower back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain (with or without headaches), and upper and lower limb discomfort. Types of MSD presenting in the general population are now categorised by specific parts of the body (HSE, 2019a) as detailed in Table 1.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting British Journal of Nursing and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for nurses. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to clinical or professional articles

  • Unlimited access to the latest news, blogs and video content