Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Staff Engagement and Empowerment (motivating staff / teamwork / work revamp tackling manpower issue / staff wellness / OSH / retention)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Authors (including presenting author) :
LAU MHL(1), NG EYL(2), WONG CYM(3), LAM KHM(1), LEUNG KKL(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Physiotherapy Department, Kowloon Hospital, The Hospital Authority (2) Administrative Division, Kowloon Hospital, The Hospital Authority (3) Catering Service, Kowloon Hospital, The Hospital Authority
Introduction :
The Hospital Authority takes the initiative to ensure staff Occupational Safety and Health(OSH) by providing Manual Handling Operation(MHO) training regularly to staff who required to perform MHO in their daily operations including staff in catering services. However, relocated furniture and altered work routine during refurbishment project could increase environmental hazards. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and decrease risks to the minimum with the most practical strategy for kitchen workers by increasing environmental hazards awareness and modulating staff behaviour to avoid injuries in unfamiliarized surroundings.
Objectives :
1. To avoid musculoskeletal injuries by promoting OSH and reinforcing safe MHO practice in an altered work environment 2. To enhance safety awareness of environmental hazards during renovation
Methodology :
MHO and Slip Strike Trip and Fell(SSTF) accounted for 58% of IOD cases which ranked one of the most common injuries in Kowloon Hospital(KH)(2022). Both new and current staff are required to receive MHO education and refresher training respectively but the trainings lack specificity to the amended work environment for proper MHO maneuver. Reposition of appliances, relocation of storeroom and installation of hoarding decreased work space created additional turns for trolleys and food carts which may escalate risks of striking injuries. Therefore, the KH Catering Service and the Physiotherapy Department worked in partnership to conduct a customized and contextual OSH training for catering staff to overcome the MHO-related and environmental barrier in their daily work during the renovation. Temporarily workplace transformation included repositioning of steamer and dishwashers created winding routes for food, soiled and clean dishes transportation. The cold room and general storage were relocated to a compact area which resulted in narrowed hallways for workers to shelve and un-shelve. Because of the fast-working pace in kitchen with deviation of daily operation, workers adapted poor positioning and ignore MHO safety for convenience which potentially caused different musculoskeletal injuries. Collaboration was made between manager and physiotherapist followed by a worksite visit for environmental and ergonomic assessment to investigate potential hazards in kitchen during renovation. A tailor-made MHO training was then conducted regarding to the findings from the assessment. Environmental hazards and potential risks were shared to increase staff safety awareness. Proper MHO maneuver was also rectified to minimize striking injuries and repetitive musculoskeletal problems.
Result & Outcome :
The tailor-made MHO training was found to be effective as shown in the post-training survey. All participants believed that the training assisted to increase their safety awareness regarding to MHO maneuver and workplace accidents.
