Wednesday, May 6, 2020

MSD in Aged Care Industry

Question: Discuss about the MSD in Aged Care Industry. Answer: Introduction In certain jobs performing some manual task is vital part of the profession. From that context, in Aged Care industry, the use of body in order to hold or move the care seekers, moving, lifting or pushing trolleys are vital part of the duties that the care providers have to perform. Among the care providers, due to performing such hazardous manual tasks results in musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). In the context of the Aged Care industry in Australia, musculoskeletal disorders are the most common and general work place injuries. Here, it is required to discuss the meaning of musculoskeletal disorders which is the main emphasis of the report(Podniece and Taylor, 2008). A disease or injury of the musculoskeletal system, which may occur over time or suddenly, may be referred as musculoskeletal disorder. Among the musculoskeletal disorders that occur in association with work place disorders low back pain (LBP) occurs at the highest level (Swezey and Calin, 2006). Other forms of MSD can also be observed in reference to the work place injuries which are strains and sprains of muscles, tendons, ligaments, damage to spinal discs, joints, bones, as a result of hand-arm vibration, vascular and muscular disorders, chronic pain etc. Musculoskeletal disorders in the work place may occur either from gradual tearing and wearing of ligaments, joints etc as a result of constant pressure of the same part of the body or by sudden damage caused as a result of laborious activity or abrupt body movements. A task requiring an individual to push, pull, lifts, lower or resisting an individual, tedious movement can be termed as a hazardous manual task. While performing hazardous manual task, repetitive, sustained and high force are the three types of forces that are involved in it(Reilly, 2006). In the context of Aged Care industry, continuous and long-term application of therapeutic treatments with the help of massage that is an example of repetitive force, pushing and pulling of trolley around hospital wards, an example of sustained force and lowering, lifting or carrying patients, example of high force can be seen to be present in it. Thus, on the basis of the above discussion, the core point of assessment of the report would be Musculoskeletal Disorders in Aged Care Industry. In the process of discussion of the topic, on aspects like hazardous manual task its impact on MSD and professionals of Aged Care Industry will be highlighted upon. The reason of assessment of this topic is the fact; characteristics of hazardous manual task can be seen in the Aged Care industry, which exposes the professionals to high risk of MSD that makes it essential to assess this topic, which is the core emphasis of the report. All Hallows Court Residential Care has been chosen for the effective completion of the report. Methodology For the successful completion of any report selection of any appropriate type of data plays a crucial role and contributes in the data evaluation process. There are two types of data, which are primary and secondary data. With the help of both online as well as offline sources secondary data would be collected(Jha, 2008). Online published early researches, peer reviewed journals and articles would form the online sources. On the other hand academic sources like newspaper, magazines library has been used to collect the offline sources. While in order to collect primary data 4 managers have been interviewed and 20 nurses have been surveyed with the help of questionnaire of the chosen Ages Care Organization i.e. All Hallows Court Residential Care. 30 nurses were approached in order to conduct the survey out of which 20 nurses participated in the survey. In a subjective manner the qualitative data which are the responses received with the help of interview has been analyzed. The quantitative data, which are the responses of the nurses from the questionnaire survey would be analyzed with the help of statistical tool and techniques like tables, graphs charts etc. Managers have been chosen in order to collect the qualitative data, the reason being, they form the edifice of functionality of the organization and they are well aware of the improvements and strategies of the organization which helps in analyzing the situation effectively and receive appropriate data effectively. On the other hand, nurses have been chosen as the target group in order to conduct the survey because; they provide services and support to the care seekers for most of the time, hence, they are going to get most affected from conditions like MSD, which makes the appropriate target group in order to conduct the survey(Hadler, 2005). In order to conduct the interview with the managers the questions that were asked are: Qualitative Analysis Do you find any kind of kind of relation between increased work pressure and MSD among the employees? In accordance to my experience, I have noticed that when work pressure increases, nurses tend to suffer from back pain, neck pain etc, which if continues results in MSD. Also I have noticed that, as a result of this, their work performance and impact on the attendance establishes the correlation between increased work pressure and occurrence of MSD. Quantitative Analysis The questionnaire with the help of which the survey was conducted were: Are you suffering from any kind of long term musculoskeletal pain? Category Number of respondents replied Number of respondents replied on the respective category % of the responses Yes 20 15 75 No 20 5 25 Source: Self Are youexperiencing any MSD which is lasting for more than 24 hours in the last 12 months? Category Number of respondents replied Number of respondents replied on the respective category % of the responses Yes 20 18 90 No 20 2 10 Source: Self Any MSD persisting for more than seven days is experienced by you? Category Number of respondents replied Number of respondents replied on the respective category % of the responses Yes 20 16 80 No 20 4 20 Source: Self Results In the basis of the conducted survey it can be noticed with the help of the firsts figure 75% of the participants were suffering from musculoskeletal pain, Figure 2 reflected that 90% of participants reported suffering from at least one MSD which lasted for more than 24 hours in the 12 months before conducting the survey. Similarly, and MSD persisting for more than seven days were reported by 80% of the participants in the same period can be seen in Figure 3. The survey further reflected the fact that, the nurses and the workers suffered from low back pain most frequently along with neck and shoulder pain. Other than the above mentioned MSD, the nurses were also observed to suffer from wrist, knee and elbow pain. The survey further reflected the fact that, like LBP neck pain was also equally prevalent among the nurses(Sadeghianet al., 2014). One of the major negative impacts of MSD like LBP is reduction of productivity due to this, which specially impacts the performance of the profe ssionals associated with Ages Care Organization that is physically demanding. It can also be observed that due to the pain and suffering from the MSD it results in impacting the work place attendance of the nurses as well. As the nurses suffer from MSD, it tends to affect their attendance, the reason being they are not physically fit to perform the duties any more. The sick leave percentage also tends to increase as a result of MSD. MSD in the long run is also seen to result in disability and morbidity which is one of the major negative impacts on the health condition of the professionals. Another mentionable impact on the aspect of health as a result of MSD increased economic burden in health care. As this condition do not allow the individuals to perform at their best level, as already mentioned, results in decreasing their functional capacity, performance and productivity, which may in turn lead to their lost salaries. Some of the mentionable negative impacts on the heath condition of the nurses as a result of MSD are tendons inflammations and associated condition like tendinitis, epicondylitis etc. The professionals are also seen to suffer from myalgias which include functional injury of muscles and related pain etc. Dysfunctional nerve function particularly seen to occur in the low back, wrist, forearm are also noticed to have impacted the professionals. Degenerative disorders like osteoarthritis are also s een to impact their physical condition (Arden et al., 2008). The psychological factor of the professionals is also negatively impacted as a result of this condition. On the primary level, it increases stress level among individuals. The reason being, on one hand the performance of the individuals gets affected due to the condition which naturally increases their stress level (safeworkaustralia, 2006). Moreover, the insecurity of losing the job due the condition further increases the stress level. The impact of MSD is further boosted due to the combination of stress level among individuals and physiological associates of stress which may damage tissues of the body, which in turn increases the risks associated with MSD. Hence, it can be stated that, stress- associated mechanisms, psycho-physiological factors are some of the major negative impacts of MSD on the professionals. As a result of which, they are also at times, seen to get ignorant towards the care seekers as well. Recommendations It is essential on the part of the care providing organization to optimize the efficiency of the professionals and reduce the risks associated with the work place, which can be done by reducing and controlling the occurrence of MSD(Safeworkaustralia, 2016). In order to curb the occurrence and prevalence of MSD it is essential to control the risks associated with the condition, at the primary level. In order to control the risks, there are number of initiatives that can be taken, like, the hierarchy of control. It includes ranking the ways of controlling the risk from highest protection level and reliability to the lowest level. In order to execute it, a single or a combination of multiple strategies may be opted. Elimination of hazardous manual tasks and related risk is one of most controlling measures. However, it is a step by step process, which requires minimizing the risk in the prior stage. In order to diminish the risk that may result in the occurrence of MSD, the aspects that result results in the hazard is required to be substituted with elements which have less risk. The individuals who are exposed to the hazard are required to be isolated from it, in order to diminish the risks. Implementation of engineer controls plays vital role in this process as well. The purchase of the tools, equipments, machineries should be ensured to reduce or minimize the risks. Emphasis should also be given on altering the work areas layout and design(Anderson, 2012). This includes changing the workstation design as per the requirement of the professionals which should be adjustable as per their needs. This should include highlighting on aspect like customizing the work station that meets varied range of workers physical condition. The working height of the workstation is also required to be emphasized upon that should also be compatible as per the requirement of the professionals. It should incorporate aspect like; the height of the working elements of the work station should be located within their comfortable reaching distance. Theworking position of the work station should also be as per the need of the professionals. It should consist of aspects like, standing work position that is apt when there are present of elements like no knee room, along with th e seating position etc. Aspects like work is also required to be worked upon which should have adequate space, so that the workers can perform their task effectively along with operating the equipments in a safe and effective manner, so that it can be accommodated. The nature, weight, number of handled items is also required to be changed. This should strategies incorporating handle tools from manual handling. The handling of the tools and equipments should also be worked upon. In order to minimize the level of use of muscular force which is the main reason of MSD, tools that reduce the impact shocks should be preferred(Sanders, 2006). The tools should be maintained effectively maintained. The use of mechanical aids also helps in improving the situation like turntables. It should also be emphasized upon by the professionals that, unaided person should not be completely lifted by a person. In this process aspects like the mobility risk are required to be assessed. Conclusion It can be concluded by stating that among the professionals who are exposed to the risk associated with MSD, Aged Care industry is one of those(Safeworkaustralia, 2016). However, there are certain initiatives with the help of which the professionals can be protected from those risks. References Anderson, M. (2012).Contemporary ergonomics and human factors 2012. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Arden, E., Arden, N. and Hunter, D. (2008). Osteoarthritis. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hadler, N. (2005). Occupational musculoskeletal disorders. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Jha, N. (2008). Research methodology. Chandigarh: Abhishek Publications. Podniece, Z. and Taylor, T. (2008).Work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Reilly, T. (2006).Musculoskeletal disorders in health-related occupations. 6th ed. Amsterdam: IOS Press. Sadeghian, F., Hosseinzadeh, S. and Aliyari, R. (2014). Do Psychological Factors Increase the Risk for Low Back Pain Among Nurses? A Comparing According to Cross-sectional and Prospective Analysis.Safety and Health at Work, 5(1), pp.13-16. safeworkaustralia.gov.au. (2006).work-related MUSCULOSKELETAL disease in Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/119/WorkRelatedMusculoskeltalDisorders_2006Australia_2006_ArchivePDF.pdf [Accessed 24 Aug. 2016]. Safeworkaustralia.gov.au. (2016).Model Codes of Practice - Hazardous Manual Tasks - Safe Work Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/hazardous-manual-tasks-cop [Accessed 24 Aug. 2016]. Sanders, M. (2006).Ergonomics and the management of musculoskeletal disorders. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Butterworth-Heinemann. Swezey, R. and Calin, A. (2006). Low Back Pain. Abingdon: HEALTH Press.

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