WMU Research Guides: ME 2615: Intro to Mechanical Engineering: Safe Patient Handling

Overview

Healthcare workers, first responders, and caregivers can at sustain injuries due to repeated improper transfers of patients. Your goal with this project is to design a transfer device that is lightweight, portable, easy to use, and has a load capacity of at least 500 pounds so that EMTs and other professionals can safely and securely transport their patients.

Safe Patient Handling Resources

Center for Disease Control: Library of Literature
Contains a list of results from a basic patient handling query, including policies and procedures.
Center for Disease Control: Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Overview
Contains prevention strategies, resources, and research gaps in current ergonomic literature.
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Publications
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) publishes numerous serials, including Ergonomics in Design, Human Factors, Human Factors in Healthcare, Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, and Reviews of Human Factors and Ergonomics. Remember: if articles are not available at the link, try searching them in the WMU library catalog ("Library Search"), BrowZine, or ordering them through Interlibrary Loan.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Safe Patient Handling
Provides background information and general guidelines about best practices; also lists several types of transfer devices for patients and their usages.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): Library of Literature
Contains prevention strategies, resources, and research gaps in current ergonomic literature.

Subject and Course Guides

ME 2615: Intro to Mechanical Engineering

Overview

Safe Patient Handling Resources