Instructions

Read the scenario out loud and use the guiding questions to have a conversation about reducing the risks of musculoskeletal injuries while providing bathing care. If possible, hold this safety huddle in a relevant location (a bathroom or the shower/tub room) so you can review the hazards present in each environment.

After this huddle Staff should know how to:

• Regularly use point of care assessments to identify musculoskeletal injury risks.
• Make practical choices for how to avoid injury.

Guiding questions

• In this scenario, what are the potential risks to be aware of before proceeding with the task?
• How could these risks be removed or minimized?
• Consider the room(s) you use to provide bathing care. What are the risks and what can be done to minimize them?

Scenario

You will be assisting Mrs. Jones with a full shower. You go to check that the shower room is available and accessible before you bring her in. When you enter the room, you notice there are grab bars and there is limited room to manoeuvre the floor lift. The shower head is detachable, and all of the shower products are on the top shelf in the corner of the room.

When you enter Mrs. Jones’ room, you find her sitting in her wheelchair facing the window.

Notes to the huddle leader

• Discuss the potential risk factors relating to awkward posture, force, duration and/or repetition.
• Encourage staff to take time to assess and prepare the space to reduce risk before starting a task.
• Reinforce that staff should do a point of care assessment before starting any task, to establish if it is safe to proceed.