California has adopted rules that require employers to ensure safe lifting, repositioning, and transfer of patients by healthcare workers in acute care hospitals. There are no comparable federal requirements beyond the requirement to protect employees from lifting hazards under the federal General Duty Clause.
The state healthcare law requires an acute care hospital to maintain a safe patient handling policy for patient care units, and to provide trained lift teams or staff trained in safe lifting techniques in each general acute care hospital.
The state Department of Industrial Relations/Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) administers and enforces workplace safety and health rules in California.
California has adopted the Hospital Patient and Health Care Worker Injury Protection Act. The Act covers the lifting, repositioning, and transfer of patients by healthcare workers in acute care hospitals. “Healthcare worker,” in the context of this rule, means a lift team member or other staff responsible for assisting in lifting patients who is a hospital employee specifically trained to handle patient lifts, repositioning, and transfers using patient transfer, repositioning, and lifting devices as appropriate for the specific patient.
The law requires an acute care hospital to maintain a safe patient handling policy for patient care units, and to provide trained lift teams or staff trained in safe lifting techniques in each general acute care hospital.
The rule does not apply to state correctional, rehabilitation, or State Department of Developmental Services facilities.
California Back Safety Resources