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MNA Member Represents Nurses Before National
Press Corp; Urges Congressional Action to Prevent Back Injuries
Massachusetts Nurses Association member Beth Piknick,
RN, a registered who has suffered a disabling, work-related back
injury participated in a Capitol Hill press conference to support
release of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA)
standard to protect workers, including registered nurses from ergonomic
injuries and illnesses. -- especially preventable back injuries.
Ergonomic injuries affect more than 12 out of 100
hospital-based nurses and more than 17 out of 100 nurses working
in nursing homes. The vast majority of these nurse injuries are
preventable back injuries. By contrast, in all industries combined,
8.5 out of 100 workers reported non-fatal occupational injuries
and illnesses.
"I am one of the statistics.," Piknick
told the national press corps. "On February 17, 1992, I suffered
a back injury while assisting a patient. That injury required major
surgery -- spinal fusion -- and two years of major rehabilitation
before and after surgery. The injury was devastating to me personally
and professionally. I led a very active life, enjoying competitive
racquetball, water-skiing, and white water rafting. But, most important,
I enjoyed my work as an ICU nurse, my career since 1971. The loss
of my ability to take care of patients led to a clinical depression
lasting four and a half years. I now administer T.B. tests to employees
at my hospital. My ability to take care of patients -- the reason
I became a nurse -- is gone. My injury -- and all the losses it
has entailed – were preventable."
The June 22nd press conference was held
by U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and was organized by
the American Nurses Association, the national affiliate of the MNA.
Non-ANA guests included other members of Congress and representatives
of worker advocacy organizations that support an OSHA ergonomic
standard.
In addition to recommending publication of an OSHA
ergonomic standard, ANA recommends health care management recognition
of and commitment to back injury prevention, with appropriate staffing,
purchase and maintenance of equipment to assist with lifting and
transfers, and education and involvement of staff in analyzing risk
of injury for prevention.
ANA recommends that single-person patient lifts
without assistive staff or devices be eliminated from use in the
health care setting because of the risk of injury to health care
workers.
The ANA strongly opposes H.R. 987 and S.1070, bills
that would stop OSHA from protecting workers against ergonomic injuries
and illnesses. ANA urges registered nurses and others to immediately
contact your U.S. Representative and your two U.S. Senators to urge
that they oppose H.R.987 and S.1070.
Click here to view Beth Pietnik’s
testimony
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