Avoiding Hospital Falls

Hospital falls are some of the most dangerous accidents for patients and unfortunately they happen far too often. Hospitals are required to take safety measures and implement the use of equipment enabling patients to move safely; but according to fines issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), some hospitals are not up to the task. One New Jersey hospital recently reached a settlement with OSHA to resolve risky violations for healthcare workers and patients.

What’s The Problem?

Many patients require help moving around during their hospital stays. The job of assisting patients in this way is generally assigned to nurses, but moving patients is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous. When nurses are responsible for helping patients move, they run the risk of injuring themselves by having to support too much weight.

For instance, if a patient is leaning on a nurse to walk, the nurse could be injured by the weight of the patient. This would cause the nurse to drop her support of the patient, which could in turn also cause the patient to suffer injuries.

This precarious situation has been escalated by two important factors: the increasing average age of nurses and the increasing average weight of patients. For both staff and patients to move safely, hospitals need the proper equipment and protocols to support the safe handling of patients.

OSHA Regulations

While all hospitals are required to provide a certain standard of care, some facilities do not always do so. With regard to preventing hospital falls, all healthcare facilities are required to follow OSHA regulations. While OSHA’s guidelines are aimed at protecting workers from injuries, in the instance of hospital fall prevention, they also help protect patients. Hospitals that fail to provide workers with appropriate equipment and training to help transport patients can be fined by OSHA and face serious consequences.

Lawyers for Philadelphia Hospital Falls

Failure to supply healthcare workers with the equipment and training they need to move patients safely is inexcusable. If you or someone you love suffered a fall injury in a Philadelphia hospital, you deserve to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact the experienced hospital negligence attorneys at Lopez McHugh LLP for a free consultation to discuss your case.