2116
Safe Patient Handling
The Safe Patient Handling course provides crucial training on techniques and equipment for safely moving and managing patients. It covers ergonomic practices, risk reduction, and the use of assistive devices to prevent injury and ensure safe patient care in healthcare settings.
What is the Safe Patient Handling?
The Safe Patient Handling course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals provides dedicated training on preventing musculoskeletal injuries from patient handling — the #1 cause of injury to healthcare workers. Lifting, transferring, repositioning, and mobilising patients creates the highest-risk manual handling exposure in any industry: patients are heavy, often unable to assist, may resist or move unpredictably, and must be handled with care for their own safety. Traditional manual lifting techniques ('lift with your legs') do not prevent injuries because the biomechanical forces exceed human capacity regardless of technique. The curriculum covers the evidence against manual patient lifting (biomechanical analysis demonstrates that manual patient lifting exceeds safe spinal force limits even with 'proper technique'), patient mobility assessment tools (identifying what assistance each patient needs), mechanical lifting equipment (ceiling lifts, floor-based lifts, sit-to-stand lifts, lateral transfer devices, repositioning sheets), no-lift and minimal-manual-lift policies, safe transfer techniques for each transfer type (bed to chair, chair to toilet, supine repositioning, lateral transfer), programme design and implementation, staff training, patient assessment integration into care planning, and the programme governance that sustains safe patient handling practices. All training is delivered 100% online through the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS.
Who should take this course?
- Nurses and nursing assistants who perform patient transfers
- Hospital and long-term care safety officers
- Rehabilitation therapists involved in patient mobility
- Healthcare facility managers procuring lifting equipment
- Home health workers performing patient handling in homes
- Any healthcare worker who lifts, transfers, or repositions patients
What will you study?
Core Modules
- 01Introduction to Safe Patient Handling
- 02Ergonomic Principles for Patient Handling
- 03Assessment of Patient Mobility and Handling Needs
- 04Safe Lifting Techniques and Body Mechanics
- 05Use of Assistive Devices
- 06Emergency Procedures and Injury Prevention
- 07Monitoring, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement of Handling Practices
- 08Creating a Culture of Safety and Compliance in Patient Handling
Optional / Advanced Modules
- 01Advanced Techniques for Handling Bariatric and High-Risk Patients
- 02Case Studies on Patient Handling Incidents and Lessons Learned
- 03Implementing Safety Management Systems for Patient Handling
- 04Staff Training Programs and Ergonomic Risk Mitigation Strategies
How will you be assessed?
Candidates can take this exam through an assigned portal from the American Institute of Safety Professionals. A passing score is 70% or higher, and exam results are provided right after by email to the address provided. The exam is open-book, allowing candidates to validate their answers. Any candidates who do not pass have 1 month after their exam to go through the training materials and can take the exam 3 additional times.
/Course Certificates/Safe Patient Handling Certificate - American Institute of Safety Professionals.webp)
/Course Wallet Front/Courses Student Wallet Card Front - American Institute of Safety Professionals USA.webp)
/Course Wallet Back/Courses Student Wallet Card Back - American Institute of Safety Professionals USA.webp)
