N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43E-12.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 8:43E-12.6 - Safe patient handling policy

(a) The covered facility, under the direction of the safe patient handling committee, shall establish a written safe patient handling policy for all units and for all shifts.

(b) The content of the safe patient handling policy shall include, at a minimum, the following:

1. A requirement that an assessment of a patient's need for assisted patient handling shall be performed for each patient;

2. A requirement that assisted patient handling shall be used for patient handling tasks, except when not required based on an assessment of a patient's need for assisted patient handling or in the case of a medical emergency, during which a patient's life would be threatened if the required safe patient handling equipment were not immediately available;

3. A statement that patients shall have the right to refuse the use of assisted patient handling; and

4. A commitment that all elements of the policy shall be consistent with patient and health care worker safety and well-being.

(c) The safe patient handling policy shall:

1. Comply with all of the requirements of N.J.A.C. 8:43E-12; and

2. Be signed by the chief executive officer of the covered facility.

(d) A statement summarizing the policy shall be posted in a location easily visible to staff, patients, residents and visitors.

(e) If a language other than English is the exclusive language spoken by at least 10 percent of a facility's healthcare workers, the covered facility shall translate the safe patient handling policy into that language and make it available to those workers.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43E-12.6