Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention ACUTE
Workplace injuries can be prevented — whether you work in a lab, move boxes, or spend hours working at a computer. This module is intended to help you reduce your risk of suffering musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs).
CASE STUDY
What are the greatest MSI risks for Mohammed and Sandra?

Case Study 1
Mohammed is a patient care aide at VCH. He spends the day transferring and mobilizing patients/residents.

Case Study 2
Sandra is a nurse at VCH. She spends her day attending and treating patients.
3 KEY THINGS
The most important information I need to know.
5 Risk Factors
Signs & Symptoms
3 Stages of MSI
Overview
MSIs are injuries that affect the human body’s movement or musculoskeletal system (i.e. muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, blood vessels, etc.).
MSI can worsen over time. Early recognition is critical for timely intervention and treatment.
It is also important to recognize the signs and symptoms so that they can be reported to your Supervisor.

Signs
Signs are things you can see such as:
- redness
- swelling

Symptoms
Symptoms are things you can feel such as:
- numbness
- tingling
- spasms
- stiffness
- reduced range of motion
1 |
Early Stage
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2 |
Middle Stage
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3 |
Late Stage
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WHAT CAN I DO?
Tips to help me take care and stay safe.
Identify workplace risk factors
The first step to reducing MSI is to recognize risk factors and report them to your supervisor.
Problem solve
Discuss ways to minimize identified risk factors with your supervisor and peers. If you feel the onset of MSI, consult with your health care practitioner. Early intervention is key to recovery. Report to Workplace Health Call Centre: 1 (866) 922-9464.
Point of care risk assessment
S – SELF
- Do I have the skills?
- Am I in the right frame of mind?
T – Task
- Do I know how the patient does the task?
- Has the care plan changed? Kardex? Report?
E – Environment
- Is the area safe?
- Proper equipment and set-up?
P – Patient/Resident/Client
- Is the patient safe to do the planned task?
- Has the patient changed?
- Is this the right time for the patient?
- If transferring: “S.A.F.E. Pre-transfer Check”
Good body mechanics
Good body mechanics apply to all care situations — whether using ceiling lifts during transfers, toileting, bathing, feeding, and dressing, or when handling equipment.
Pre-transfer check:
- Can the patient follow my direction?
- Do they have enough strength to lift their bottom off the bed (bridging) or equivalent?
- Are they able to bring themselves to sit on the side of bed?
- Can the patient lean forward and back?
- Can the patient lift his/her bottom off of his/her seat?
- Do they have enough strength to initiate the move to standing?
- Can they march on the spot?
If the task is unsafe:
- Follow your worksite’s standard procedure for when unsafe work conditions are identified
- Make sure the resident is safe and ask for supervisor input on an alternative plan
- Understand your Right to Refuse Unsafe Work (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation). Refer to Refusal of Unsafe Work Process — the Occupational Health and Safety Agency for health care in BC.
- Familiarize yourself with examples of immediate actions and examples of follow up actions
Know your equipment and tasks
Ask about any Safe Work Procedures (SWP) in your unit/work-area. There are often several different ways to do the same task or activity, and some of these will be safer than others. Review helpful resources on safe use of equipment.
PRACTICE
Checking my confidence in this subject.
MY ACTION ITEMS
Identify risk factors in your new work environment and prepare to discuss problem solving methods when you meet your supervisor and peers in person.
Click here to access & complete the required MSIP quiz.