Appropriate patient moving and handling as a strategy creating a safe patient handling culture

Abstract

Approximately 10% of workers in the European Union work in the health care sector, and the majority of them in hospitals. These workers are under different kinds of risks (biological, musculoskeletal disorder, psychosocial, etc.). At the moment, European Union legislation on health care workplaces encompasses most types of risks. However, the fact that so many different types of risks arise at once, along with the fact that this work sector is, without doubt, dangerous, has encouraged considering whether or not special methods are needed, at the Union level, in order to provide better health and safety conditions for hospital workers. European legislation regarding uniform and workwear focuses on two main areas: health, safety and infection control; and equality in terms of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, race, transgender, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief and human rights. [...].