[MCOH-EH] Morgue injuries

[Higazi, Patricia]

We did have these issues many years ago and went from a portable lift with slings to a ceiling mounted mortuary lift with configurable ceiling tracking systems.  Depending on the about of space from top rack to ceiling it may require some ceiling modification 


Patricia Higazi  MSN RN COHN
Occupational Health Director
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Norfolk, Virginia 23507
Tel: 757 668 7852
Fax: 757 668 8775

Getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Flu vaccination is especially important for people who are at high risk from flu; many of whom are also at high risk for COVID-19 or serious outcomes.

-----Original Message-----
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Abhijay Karandikar via MCOH-EH
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2020 6:10 PM
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
Cc: Abhijay Karandikar
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Morgue injuries

<p><font size="3" color="red" face="times new roman"><strong>External</strong>:</font></p>

Cross posting from the OEM list serv. Apologies for the double e-mails to those who subscribe to both lists.

I was looking for opinions on the following issue:

There has been an increase in employee injuries at a hospital morgue. The issue at hand is positioning bodies high enough such that they are placed on slides of the topmost bays (bays are stacked one above the other). The bodies are placed on a repositioning sheet held by slings and are lifted by a mechanical lift/hoist. The lift is not high enough, however. This means that no matter what sling/sheet is used, employees still have to push bodies into the top bays. This results in shoulder/upper back injuries as well as increases the risk of exposure to body fluids since they can drain on to the employees as they are under the body pushing them to the bay.  

Has anyone had similar issues? If yes, what processes/equipment did you implement to reduce such injuries?

Thanks,
Abhijay

Abhijay P. Karandikar, MD, MPH, FACOEM

---------------------------------------
The MCOH-EH List has always been moderated by members of the ACOEM Medical Center Occupational Health Section. It is currently moderated by Joe Fanucchi MD FACOEM.
List membership is free, but only subscribers may post to the list.
To post send messages to: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
To become a subscriber, or to change your subscription options (turn off email while you're on vacation, etc):   http://www.mcoh-eh.net
MediTrax / Occupational Health Systems, Inc. provides financial support to ensure the list remains a free resource for the occupational health community.
---------------------------------------
List archives (public): http://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/
---------------------------------------
Send administrative requests to: drjoe at meditrax.com
---------------------------------------
When replying to a message, PLEASE delete all footers, and all messages to which you're NOT replying.