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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="19-377" title_number="19" title_name="Health Care Facilities" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Hospitals and Related Institutions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “safe patient lifting” means the use of mechanical lifting devices by hospital employees, instead of manual lifting, to lift, transfer, and reposition patients.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>On or before December 1, 2007, each hospital shall establish a safe patient lifting committee with equal membership from management and employees.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On or before July 1, 2008, the safe patient lifting committee shall develop a safe patient lifting policy for the hospital.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The goal of the policy shall be to reduce employee injuries associated with patient lifting.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>While developing a safe patient lifting policy, the committee shall consider, based on the patient population of that hospital, the appropriateness and effectiveness of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Developing or enhancing patient handling hazard assessment processes;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Enhanced use of mechanical lifting devices;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Developing specialized lift teams;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Training programs for safe patient lifting required for all patient care personnel at the hospital;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Incorporating physical space and construction design  for mechanical lifting devices in any architectural plans for hospital construction or renovation; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Developing an evaluation process to determine the effectiveness of the policy.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
