Ergonomic risks and muscle skeletal disorders in health workers who manually handle patients in the Carlos Andrade Marín Hospital (HCAM)

Abstract

Introduction: Lately in Ecuador, occupational health has become relevant to hospital managers. The policy of preventing risks is taking steps ahead to minimize them. Hospitals are places where personnel that routinely handle patients are exposed to physical risks than could lead to musculoskeletal disorders, affecting mainly back and shoulders. The staff frequently suffers pain in the lower back area, due to several factors like adopting incorrect postures, use obsolete equipment, shortage of staff and working in confined spaces. Such lesions may occur anywhere on the body but the more sensitive areas are the upper limbs and the lower back. Methods: This study was carried out at Carlos Andrade Marín Hospital in order to assess health personnel risks when they routinely handle patients. Surveys using previous validated tools like Mobilization Healthcare Inpatient (MAPO) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) were employed to assess the degree of risk involved in hospital work, specially when adopting awkward postures, strain efforts or repetitive movements that cause musculoskeletal lesions. Results: Some scales allow us to detect important risk factors that endanger the health of hospital workers. There is a direct relationship between ergonomic risks due to manual patient handling, including lifting, repositioning, transferring, etc., with musculoskeletal disorders. Discusion: The use of inapropiate body mechanics and the lack of auxiliary methods to move patitents, health personnel is exposed to bone and muscle injuries. Continuous education is recommended to control risks and minimize working injuries.