Royal Perth Hospital Sir George Bedbrook Spinal Unit (WA)
Category 2: Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
The Sir George Bedbrook Spinal Unit at Royal Perth Hospital identified an unsafe manual handling work process which did not comply with its ‘safe handling (no lift)’ policy. The ward was unable to comply because of the vulnerable nature of its spinal patients’ conditions. Spinal patients are difficult to care for because of the nature of the injury and the need to keep their spine aligned through all manual-handling activities.
As a solution to this issue, the ward developed the aeroplane pillow which eliminated the need to manually lift the patient off the bed. The pillow design allows it to remain in place meaning the patient is not required to be lifted off the bed to change position or replace the pillow.
Prior to the aeroplane pillow, three staff were required to manually lift the acute spinal patient while a fourth person supported the head and neck, to maintain spinal alignment.
This solution was uniquely designed to meet both the patients’ clinical needs, the staff safety needs and the hospital’s wider infection control needs. The aeroplane pillow has improved the workplace such that there has been a reduction over the past three years in workers’ compensation and lost time injuries relating to patient manual handling tasks.
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Page last updated: 03/05/2007