LeadingAge recently filed comments in support of the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposal to eliminate restrictions on the operation of patient lifts by nursing home employees under the age of 18. If finalized, the rule will remove the operation of power-driven patient lifts from the list of activities that the Department of Labor prohibits for 16 and 17-year old workers. Given the serious shortage of people to fill CNA positions, this restriction has made staffing an even greater challenge. LeadingAge pointed out that the present rule was intended to protect young workers from injuries resulting from the operation of cranes, forklifts and other heavy machinery in industrial settings. However, In nursing homes and other healthcare settings, patient lifts help prevent injuries that occur when workers lift patients manually.
