Nursing and care professions: Use the right technology to protect your back
It's common knowledge that care workers have physically demanding jobs. During the Corona pandemic, the workload in hospitals and care facilities became even more intense. Apart from shift work and psychological challenges, incorrect posture can also negatively affect the health of care workers. This is the conclusion from the BiBB/BAuA employment surveys from 2006, 2012 and 2018. According to these, nurses and elder care workers often work in a standing, kneeling or stooped posture. Lifting and carrying heavy loads puts additional strain on their bodies.
The result is back and neck pain. 64 per cent of the nurses and elder care workers surveyed complained of lower back pain. In other professions, this figure is significantly lower at 44 per cent. Compared to other groups, care workers also experience more frequent pain in the neck, shoulders, hips and knees.
SALES
REPRESENTATIVE
Jutta Jerzembek
jerzembek@dewert.de
Electric drives provide relief for care workers
A current study by the German Employers' Liability Insurance Association for Medical Services and Welfare Work (BGW) together with the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) offers possible solutions. A key insight: The proper working height (e.g. during basic care at the bedside) has a decisive influence on the physical health of the caregivers. As the bed height increases, workers can stay in an upright position for longer and thus relieve the strain on their backs. The ideal height setting is at about hip level. Study participants felt less physical exertion when they spent more time in an upright position.
Employers in the healthcare sector can significantly relieve their employees by taking advantage of electrically adjustable beds and patient lifts. These can be moved quietly, comfortably and safely into the desired positions. Thus, they help improve comfort for the patients and the nursing staff. We support this solution with our drive technology for adjusting the end product. Dewert is a global specialist for drives and system technology in the medical sector. The MEGAMAT single drive is used to adjust the height. Double drives such as the DUOMAT adjust both the head and foot sections, thus improving the working conditions for an entire occupational group.